THE 



POET PREACHER: 

gt §xxtl P t m o r x n I of 

CHARLES WESLEY, 

THE EMINENT PEE AC HER AND POET. 
By CHARLES ADAMS. 



FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS. 



JXtw gork: 

PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 200 MULBEKET-STREET. 



c\0 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, 
BY CARLTON & PORTER, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern 
District of New York. 



PEE E ACE. 



This unpretending compilation is designed 
to supply a want in our Sabbath-school litera- 
ture. It has seemed to me that a memorial 
of Charles Wesley, canvassing the main and 
important facts of his career, drawn up with 
appropriate brevity and sprightliness, and in 
a shape to attract youthful readers, would be 
of positive use to the Church. 

The English biography by Jackson, which 
was republished at New York in 1842, and 
from which this little volume is principally 
compiled, has its value as a book for minis- 
ters, and for the study; but is quite too 
voluminous and cumbersome for common 



6 PREFACE. 

readers. In fact, the spirit of the age and 
the American taste require that authors who 
would be read must be brief, and earnest, 
and " to the point." They must be chary of 
side-issues, characters, and reflections ; deal 
sparingly in generalities, keep the subject of 
their pencilings as vividly as possible before 
the eye, and cease their touches as soon as 
the picture is finished. 

Such has been the endeavor in the little 
volume hereby submitted to the public. The 
story of Charles Wesley is highly instructive, 
and, for the most part, greatly beautiful ; and 
it is hoped that the present version of it may 
not be unwelcome to the youth of the land. 

The Editor. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

EAELY DAYS 9 

COLLEGE LIFE 15 

THE SOCIETY 19 

MISSION TO GEOEGIA . , 26 

HOMEWAED VOYAGE . 32 

EELIGIOUS STATE 37 

SEAECH FOE FAITH 42 

SUCCESS 50 

EAELIEST EESULTS 55 

FUETHEE DEVELOPMENTS 63 

FIELD PEE ACHING 68 

OPPOSITION r 77 

INCIDENTS 85 

PEESECUTIONS 91 

THE GWYNNES 103 

MAEEIAGE 108 

. THE EAETHQUAKE 113 

COEEESPONDENCE 118 

SOEEOWS 123 

METHODISM AND THE CHUECH 129 

PAINFUL SOLICITUDE....... 136 

EETIEEMENT 143 



8 



CONTENTS. 



PAGB 

LETTEES 149 

LETTEES — CONTINUED 158 

EEMOYAL AND EFFOETS 164 

THE FAMILY— CHAELES, JUNIOE 170 

THE FAMILY— SAMUEL 17 8 

THE FAMILY— SAEAH 182 

ASSOCIATES 187 

THE WESLEYAN OEDINATIONS 192 

CHAELES WESLEY A POET , . . . 201 

POETICAL SPECIMENS 207 

PEE ACHING AND SCHOLAESHIP 216 

SOCIAL CHAEACTEE 222 

DEATH 226 



Jllotratioiix 

PAGE 

Chaeles Wesley and the Aechbishop 2 

Westminster School 11 

Field Peeaching- 69 

Chaeles Wesley ln a Mob 94 

Little Chaeley at the Piano . . . . 172 



THE POET PREACHER. 



. « — — — 

EAELY DAYS. 

Charles Wesley was born December 18, 
1708. He was the youngest son of Kev. Samuel 
Wesley, rector of Epworth, and five years 
younger than his brother, the celebrated John 
Wesley, the founder of Methodism. 

His mother, Susanna Wesley, was a more 
than ordinary woman, being characterized by 
sincere piety, a strong and well cultivated mind, 
elevated views of parental duty and responsibil- 
ity, and uncommon talent and energy as a Chris- 
tian mother. 

Under her tuition all her children were sever- 
ally placed, and all were trained in accordance 
with the most careful rules of instruction and 



10 



THE POET PREACHER. 



discipline. Never, perhaps, were children more 
blessed in a mother than Charles Wesley and 
his brothers and sisters ; and never did children 
receive more faithful attention and care with a 
view to their growing up in true knowledge 
and wisdom. Nor can it be reasonably doubted 
that maternal influence upon the Wesley s had 
much to do with shaping their future character 
and destiny. " They were trained to habits of 
regularity, diligence, order, self-denial, honesty, 
benevolence, seriousness, and devotion, and well 
did they, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, reward 
the pious toil of their accomplished preceptress." 

At eight years of age Charles was sent to 
Westminster School, and was placed under the 
care of his brother Samuel, then an usher in the 
establishment. Here he became an excellent 
classical scholar, while at the same time, under 
the influence of his brother, he imbibed strong 
High Church views. 

While at Westminster Garret Wesley, Esq., 
a gentleman of large fortune, residing in Ire- 
land, offered to adopt Charles and make him 



WESTMINSTER SCHOOL*. 



EARLY DAYS 



13 



his heir if he would leave England and reside 
with him in Ireland. But Charles declined the 
offer. " A fair escape !" wrote his brother John, 
in alluding to this circumstance. 

Such are the pivots on which turn life's great 
destinies, and the destinies, too, of that great 
eternity to which we hasten. 

It seemed a brilliant and captivating offer 
which was thus made to Charles, and the world 
would be inclined to pity him for declining it. 
Yet had he accepted it he would doubtless have 
walked another path from the one he actually 
traveled ; lived for this world rather than for a 
better, and received his portion here rather than 
there. " There is a way that seemeth right unto 
a man, but the end thereof are the ways of 
death." 

The sequel of the above-named matter was 
curious. Charles having declined the offer of 
Garret Wesley, the latter adopted a kinsman, 
on condition of his receiving the name of Wes- 
ley. This young man was afterward raised to the 
peerage, under the title of Baron Mornington, 



14 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



and was the grandfather of the great Duke of 
"Wellington. 

This case is finely summed up by Mr. Jackson 
as follows : 

" Had Mr. Charles Wesley accepted the pro- 
posal that was made to him, he would have been 
far removed from the religious friends who were 
the instruments of his conversion and subse- 
quent piety, and Richard Oolley would never 
have possessed the property of Garret Wesley. 
According to all human calculation, therefore, 
the world would never have enjoyed the benefit 
of Charles Wesley's ministry ; his incomparable 
hymns would never have been written ; the ex- 
tension of the British empire in India, under the 
administration of the Marquis Wellesley, might 
not have taken place; and the general who con- 
quered Napoleon Bonaparte, and thus overthrew 
one of the greatest tyrannies that ever existed, 
might never have been born. What a thought, 
that events so immensely important, and involv- 
ing the temporal and spiritual interests of mil- 
lions, should have been contingent upon the 



COLLEGE LIFE. 



15 



volition of an impetuous boy, who was left to 
decide whether he would remain in England, 
with the prospects of poverty and labor before 
him, or go to Ireland to enjoy the luxuries and 
honor of wealth ! That the hand of God was in 
the determination, none but an infidel can 
doubt. The youth decided under the secret 
guidance of Divine mercy, exercised not only 
toward him but toward the world." 



COLLEGE LIFE. 

At eighteen years of age Charles passed from 
Westminster School to the University of Oxford. 
Here, though correct in his deportment and of 
highly agreeable manners and spirit, yet, for 
some months, he was far from being diligent in 
his studies. He improved, however, in this 
respect, but remained careless about his spirit- 
ual interests ; and when his brother John, who 
had preceded him at Oxford, would sometimes 
address, him on religious affairs, Charles would 



16 



THE POET PREACHER. 



reply, " What ! would you have me be a saint 
all at once ?" 

Yet after^ John had left the university to 
assist his father in the curacy of Wroote, Charles 
became much more serious, and apparently, 
too, without any special means being used for 
such a result. In this state of mind he writes 
to his brother as follows : 

" God has thought fit (it may be to increase 
my weariness) to deny me at present your com- 
pany and assistance. It is through him strength- 
ening me, I trust to maintain my ground till we 
meet. And I hope that neither before nor after 
that time I shall relapse into my former state 
of insensibility. It is through your means, I 
firmly believe, that God will establish what he 
hath begun in me ; and there is no one person I 
would so willingly have to be the instrument of 
good to me as you. It is owing, in great measure, 
to somebody's prayers, (my mother's most likely,) 
that I am come to think as I do ; for I cannot tell, 
myself, how or when I awoke out of my lethargy, 
only that it was not long after you went away." 



COLLEGE LIFE. 



IT 



Nor was Charles alone in his seriousness. 
Being solicitous for the spiritual good of others 
as well as of himself, he soon succeeded in lead- 
ing two or three other young men to become 
interested, like himself, for the salvation of 
their souls. 

These thoughtful young men being conscien- 
tiously diligent and methodical in their pursuit 
of study, and in the improvement of their time 
generally, and being very regular withal in 
their attention to their religious duties, thus ac- 
quired the name of Methodist^ and were known 
by this appellative all over the university. 

Just about this time, 1729, John "Wesley, at 
the earnest solicitation of a friend, resigned the 
curacy which he held under his father, and re- 
turned to Oxford. Charles and his companions 
were greatly rejoiced at his arrival, and they 
immediately formed themselves into a society 
under John's superintendence. The object of 
the association was to promote, in a manner 
more regular and systematic than ever, their 
intellectual, moral, and spiritual improvement. 



18 



THE POET PREACHEK. 



This society consisted at first of four members 
only, the two Wesleys and Mr. Morgan and 
Mr. Kirkham. " They agreed to spend three 
or four evenings in a week together, in reading 
the Greek Testament, with the Greek and Latin 
classics. On the Sunday evenings they read 
divinity." 

At twenty-one years Charles graduated Bach- 
elor of Arts, and forthwith became a college 
tutor. Soon after he received the following 
interesting letter from his father : 

"I received your last, and you may easily 
guess whether I were not well pleased with it, 
both on your account and my own. You have 
a double advantage by your pupils, which will 
soon bring you more, if you will improve it, as 
I firmly hope you will, by taking the utmost 
care to form their minds to piety as well as 
learning. As for yourself, between logic, gram- 
mar, and mathematics, be idle if you can. I 
give my blessing to the bishop for having tied 
you a little faster, by obliging you to rub up 
your Arabic ; and a fixed and constant method 



THE SOCIETY. 



19 



will make the whole both pleasing and delight- 
ful to you. But for all that you must find time 
every day for walking, which you know you 
may do with advantage to your pupils ; and a 
little more robust exercise, now and then, will 
do you no harm. You are now launched fairly, 
Charles. Hold up your head, and swim like a 
man ; and when you cuff the wave beneath you, 
say to it, much as another hero did, 

" Carolum vehis, et Caroli fortunam"* 

But always keep your eye fixed above the polar 
star; and so God send you a good voyage 
through the troublesome sea of life, which is the 
hearty prayer of your loving father." 



THE SOCIETY. 

The little society of Methodists increased, 
though slowly. Several pupils became con- 
nected with it, and among others James Her- 
*"Thon earnest Charles, and Charles's fortune." 



20 



THE POET PREACHER. 



vey, author of the "Meditations," and two or 
three years afterward, George Whitefield, who 
subsequently became so celebrated as a preacher 
of Christ. One or two extracts from "White- 
field's correspondence at this time will interest 
the thoughtful. 

He writes : " The young men, so called, were 
then much talked of at Oxford. I had heard of 
and loved them before I came to the university ; 
and so strenuously defended them, when I heard 
them reviled by the students, that they began 
to think that I also in time should be one of 
them." 

Receiving an invitation from Charles Wesley 
to breakfast with him, he writes : "I thankfully 
embraced the opportunity ; and, blessed be God, 
it was one of the most profitable visits I ever 
made in my life. My soul, at the time, was 
athirst for some spiritual friends to lift up my 
hands when they hung down, and to strengthen 
my feeble knees. He soon discovered it, and, 
like a wise winner of souls, made all his dis- 
courses tend that way." 



THE SOCIETY. 



21 



" God soon showed me," he adds, " that true 
religion was a union of the soul with God, and 
Christ formed within us." 

The following extract presents a summary 
of the efforts of this college society for benefit- 
ing themselves and others : 

"They carefully avoided all superfluity of 
personal expense, that they might have the 
more to give to the poor; they supported a 
number of destitute and neglected children at 
school ; they instructed the ignorant, and re- 
proved the wicked at all opportunities ; and for 
this end went into the cottages and garrets of 
the poor, urging them to attend the public wor- 
ship of God, and supplying them with Bibles, 
prayer books, the "Whole Duty of Man," and 
other religious publications ; they regularly vis- 
ited the prisoners in the common jail, for the 
purpose of prayer and religious instruction, Mr. 
John Wesley preaching to them every Sabbath ; 
they assisted each other in their studies, and 
watched over each other's spiritual interests 
with affection and fidelity. At the same time 



22 



THE POET PREACHER. 



they aimed at an elevated standard of holiness, 
feeling that they ought to be entirely devoted to 
God. That they might attain to this state they 
used frequent fasting, and availed themselves of 
all the means of grace, particularly the Lord's 
supper, which they attended every week, re- 
gardless of public opinion and example, and 
unmoved either by the laughter of the profane, 
or the scorn of infidelity. In going to the week- 
ly sacrament at Christ Church, and in returning 
from that sacred service, they often had to make 
their way through a crowd of people who as- 
sembled for the purpose of treating them with 
insult and ridicule." 

Ridicule and persecution are indeed no more 
than what might have been expected under the 
circumstances. It was an age of infidelity, and 
Christianity was regarded by multitudes as a 
fable. Hence the new society was censured and 
many reproaches fell upon those zealous young 
men ; their pious efforts reflected discredit upon 
the less zealous clergy, and their conduct was 
condemned as presumptuous and irregular. 



THE SOCIETY. 



28 



Under these circumstances the father of the 
Wesleys was applied to for counsel, as well as 
one or tw r o other clergymen of age and experi- 
ence. The father exhorted his sons and their 
associates to persevere in their benevolent 
efforts. " As to your designs and employments," 
he says, " what can I say less of them than 
Valde probof ("I greatly approve,") and that 
I have the greatest reason to bless God that he 
has given me two sons together at Oxford, to 
whom he has given grace and courage to turn 
the war against the world and the devil, which 
is the best way to conquer them? .... My 
daily prayers are that God would keep you 
humble ; and then I am sure that if you continue 
to 'suffer for righteousness sake,' though it be 
but in a low degree, 'the Spirit of glory and of 
God 5 shall, in some good measure, rest upon you. 

" Be never weary in well-doing. IsTever look 
back, for you know the prize and the crown are 
before you ; though I can scarce think so mean- 
ly as that you would be discouraged with ' the 
crackling of thorns under a pot. 5 



24 



THE POET PREACHER. 



" Be not high-minded, but fear. Preserve an 
equal temper of mind under whatever treatment 
you meet with from a not very just or well- 
natured world. 

" Bear no more sail than is necessary, but 
steer steady. The less you value yourselves for 
these unfashionable duties, (as there is no such 
thing as works of supererogation,) the more all 
good and wise men will value you, if they see 
your actions are of a piece ; or, which is infinite- 
ly more, He by whom actions and intentions are 
weighed will both accept, esteem, and reward 
you." 

Who may calculate the worth to a son of a 
pious and intelligent father ! The influence of 
such a parent is next to omnipotent, not only to 
sway a child toward righteousness, but also to 
retain him there and stimulate and encourage 
him in the paths of good. " For I know him," 
said God of Abraham, " that he will command 
his children and his household after him, and 
they shall keep the way of the Lord to do jus- 
tice and judgment." 



THE SOCIETY. 



25 



It was not long after (1735) that this excel- 
lent father died. Charles was present, and also 
his brother John, to perform the last offices of 
kindness to the venerable parent, and to receive 
fresh spiritual strength from his dying words. 
His sky was cloudless as the sun of life hastened 
to its setting, and he was then far in the advance 
of his sons in spiritual understanding and expe- 
rience. "The inward witness, son," he says to 
John, " the inward witness ! This is the proof, 
the strongest proof of Christianity." The sons 
understood all this well in after time, though 
not now. "Ye shall know, if ye follow on to 
know the Lord." 

Some of the expressions of this dying father 
startle us like the music of prophetic voices. 
"He oft," said Charles, "laid his hand upon my 
head," saying, "Be steady! The Christian faith 
will surely revive in this kingdom, you shall see 
it, though I shall not." To one of his sisters he 
said, " Do not be concerned at my death ; God 
will then begin to manifest himself to my 
family." 



26 THT POET PREACHEK. 

And thus the good old man passed away to 
heaven; and the great "manifestation" came, 
and the family became greatly distinguished 
among the families of the earth, and the name 
of Wesley is written high on the registry of eter- 
nal fame. 



MISSION TO GEOEGIA. 

At about twenty-seven years of age Charles 
Wesley, accompanied by his brother John, em- 
barked for Georgia, then a newly established 
colony. They arrived in the Savannah river on 
the 5th of February, 1736. After remaining 
together during a few weeks, the brothers 
separated, John remaining at Savannah, and 
Charles removing to Frederica in St Simon, an 
island of the coast some leagues further south. 
Here Mr. Oglethorpe, governor of the colony, 
had established his residence, and Charles seems 
to have acted in the double capacity of mission- 
ary and the governor's private secretary. 

Both of these missionary efforts of the Wes- 



MISSION TO GEORGIA. 27 

leys appear to have been failures, and neither of 
them were of very long continuance. The rad- 
ical and main difficulty lay in the missionaries 
themselves. The truth is, neither of them 
had, as yet, become savingly acquainted with 
the great Christian scheme. They were deeply 
religious, as has been already sufficiently illus- 
trated. They were earnest in prayer and devo- 
tion ; they were zealous in good works; they were 
intent on being crucified to the world with its 
affections and lusts, and on working out their 
salvation. Under the influence of such instruc- 
tion as that of Mr. Law, in his " Serious Call to 
a Holy Life," they had long labored for salva- 
tion and peace by the performance of good 
works, rather than by simple and naked faith in 
Christ. "According to their apprehensions, 
true holiness is attained principally by means 
of sufferings, mental and bodily ; and hence they 
adopted this mode of life, resolved to do and 
suffer whatever it should please God to lay upon 
them. Their theological views were not only 
defective, but erroneous. They understood not 



28 



THE POET PREACHER. 



the true nature of a sinner's justification before 
God ; nor the faith by which it is obtained ; nor 
its connection with sanctification. Holiness of 
heart and life was the object of their eager pur- 
suit, and this they sought, not hj faith, but by 
worTts, and personal austerity, according to the 
misleading doctrine of Mr. Law. ' Our end in 
leaving our native country, 5 says Mr. John 
Wesley, ' was not to avoid want, (God having 
given us plenty of temporal blessings,) nor to 
gain the dung and dross of riches or honor, but 
singly this — to save our souls, to live wholly to 
the glory of God.' " 

Thus, of course, these sincere and zealous 
young men failed of the peace, the purity, and 
the joyous hope which spring from a full and 
lively faith in the atonement of Christ. In 
these great respects they were privileged to ob- 
serve the difference between themselves and 
the humble Moravian believers who were with 
them in the same ship, on their voyage to settle 
themselves in the new colony. In the midst of 
an awful storm, when it appeared that the ship 



MISSION TO GEOEGIA, 



29 



would founder in mid ocean, the two brothers 
watched the Moravian Christians and received 
instruction. "I had long before observed," 
says John, "the great seriousness of their be- 
haviour. Of their humility they had given a 
continual proof, by performing those servile 
offices for the other passengers which none of 
the English would undertake ; for which they 
desired and would receive no pay, saying it was 
good for their proud hearts, and their loving 
Saviour had done more for them. And every 
day had given them occasion of showing a 
meekness which no injury could move. If they 
were pushed, struck, or thrown down, they rose 
again and went away ; but no complaint was 
found in their mouth. There was now an op- 
portunity of trying whether they were delivered 
from the spirit of fear, as well as from that of 
pride, anger, and revenge. In the midst of the 
psalm wherewith their service began, the sea 
broke over, split the mainsail in pieces, covered 
the ship, and poured in between the decks, as 
if the great deep had already swallowed us up. 



30 



THE POET PREACHER. 



A terrible screaming began among the English. 
The Germans calmly sung on. I asked one of 
them afterward, ' Was you not afraid V 
"'I thank God, no.' 

" I asked, 6 But were not your women and 
children afraid V 

" He replied mildly, 4 No ; our women and 
children are not afraid to die.' " 

But the voyage was finished, and Charles Wes- 
ley was at his mission in Frederica. There he 
was punctual, diligent, self-denying, and faithful. 
No Pharisee could be more exact as to outward 
observances. But, alas ! " the glory that excell- 
eth " was not there. The missionary preached, 
and his preaching reproved vice and sin with 
desperate severity ; it held up the standard of 
holiness ; it denounced vengeance upon all who 
came short of it. It was Sinai instead of Mount 
Zion. It was dark clouds intermingled with no 
genial sunshine. 

The people of Frederica were unsettled. 
" They were under continual alarms from the 
Spaniards ; many of them were without moral 



MISSION TO GEORGIA. 



31 



principle, regarded his ministry as an attack 
upon private character, and acted toward him 
as spies and informers, with little respect for 
either truth or probability ; his health was not 
good ; he was destitute of almost every personal 
accommodation, living in a hut, mostly lying 
upon the ground ; conducting public worship 
some times in the open air, under the shade of a 
tree, and at other times in the place where the 
public stores were kept; while, at the same time, 
the governor was capricious, passionate, and 
under the influence of wicked people." 

Such was Charles's unpleasant situation 
while at this mission. But it was happily of 
short continuance. He was soon called to Sa- 
vannah, and after a few weeks, having resign- 
ed his secretaryship, he embarked for England. 



32 



THE POET PREACHEE. 



HOMEWAED YOYAGE. 

The voyage was perilous and dreadful. 
Charles describes the captain as "the most 
beastly man I ever saw : a lewd, drunken, 
quarrelsome fool praying, yet swearing contin- 
ually. The first sight I had of him was upon 
the cabin floor, stark naked and dead drunk." 

Hence, but for the skill and fidelity of the 
mate, in all probability the ship and all its 
helpless inmates would have perished. In the 
midst of much peril, after a terrible storm, the 
pumps being choked, and the ship leaking 
badly, the following conversation took place 
between the captain and his mate : 

Mate. Captain Indivine, what would you 
have us do? what course would you have us 
steer to-night? 

Captain. Even what course you will; we 
have a fair wind. 

M. Yes, sir; and it drives us full upon the 
land, which cannot he many leagues off. 



HOMEWARD VOYAGE. 



33 



C. Then, I think, you had better keep for- 
ward. 

M. Would you have us go on all night, 
and venture running upon the land ? 

G. I do'nt know. Go on. 

M. But there are shoals and rocks before us. 

C. Why, then, have a good look-out. 

M. But you can't see twice the ship's length. 
What would you order me to do ? 

C. These rebels and emissaries have excited 
you to come to ask for orders ; I don't know 
what you mean. 

M. Sir, nobody has excited me ; I come, as it 
is my duty, to my captain for directions. 

C. Have you a mind to quarrel with me ? 

M. I have a mind to know what you 
will do. 

G. Nay, what will you do, if you come to 
that? 

M. Am I your captain, or you mine ? 

C. I am your captain, and will make you 
know it, Mr. Man. Do what I order you; for 
you must and shall. 



34 



THE POET PKEACHEK. 



M. Why, sir, you order me nothing. 

C. You would not have me come on deck 
myself, sure ? 

M. If you did, I should not think it would 
be much amiss. Some captains would not 
have stirred off deck a moment in such a night 
as this. Here you lie, without so much as ever 
once looking out to see how things are. 

G. Yes, I have been upon deck this very 
day. 

M. But you have taken no account of any- 
thing, or given yourself the least trouble about 
the ship, for many days past. 

C. It is all one for that, I know where we 
are exactly. 

M. How far do you think we may be from 
land? 

C. Why, just thirty-five leagues. I am sure 
of it. 

M. How is that possible? you have taken no 
observation this fortnight ; nor have we got one 
these four days. 

C. ~No matter for that, I know we are safe. 



HOMEWARD VOYAGE. 



35 



M. Sir, the most skilful sailor alive cannot 
know it. Be pleased only to declare what you 
would have done. Shall we sail on ? shall we 
lie by ? shall we alter our course ? shall we stand 
in or off ? 

He went on repeating such questions again 
and again ; but as to giving an answer, the cap- 
tain chose to be excused, till the mate, quite out 
of patience, having waited an hour to no pur- 
pose, left him ; and the captain concluded with, 
6i Jack, give me a dram." 

The ship put into Boston, where Mr. Wesley 
sojourned about a month, waiting an opportunity 
to sail for England. He was ill during all his 
stay, yet he seems to have found sympathizing 
friends who ministered to his wants. He at 
length re-embarked in the same ship which had 
brought him from the South, the vessel having 
undergone repairs and shipped another captain. 
But the ship was doomed to encounter another 
terrific storm, and continual pumping could 
hardly keep her above water. " In this perilous 
hour," said Charles, " I rose and lay down by 



36 



THE POET PREACHER. 



turns, but could remain in no posture long. 
I strove vehemently to pray, but in vain ; I per- 
sisted in striving, yet still without effect. I 
prayed for power to pray, for faith in Jesus 
Christ, continually repeating his name till I felt 
the virtue of it at last, and knew that I abode 
under the shadow of the Almighty." 

The storm passed, yet other storms succeeded, 
and much of the voyage was tempestuous and 
dismal. Yet the gales subsided at length, and 
sunny days and favoring breezes crowned the 
conclusion of the voyage ; and on the 3d of De- 
cember, 1736, the weary voyager set his foot 
again upon his native soil, and under the strong 
influence of grateful feeling kneeled upon the 
ground, and offered thanks to God for his preser- 
vation by land and water, and in pain and 
sickness. 

His numerous friends received him with open 
arms, and almost as one who had been raised 
from the dead. His brother John presently fol- 
lowed him to England, and thus ended the mis- 
sion of these two brothers to this country. 



RELIGIOUS STATE. 



31 



RELIGIOUS STATE. 

Thus Charles Wesley and his brother John 
are again at home. They had been abroad upon 
a foreign mission, while as yet neither of them 
seemed to have come into possession of that faith 
whigh justifies the soul, and which gives peace 
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The 
seventh chapter to the Romans pictured forth 
their spiritual experience, rather than the eighth. 
They had not, all this w T hile, become freemen in 
Christ Jesus, and knew not what it was so to 
believe on him as to rejoice with joy unspeak- 
able and full of glory. They were deeply re- 
ligious, but theirs was rather a religion of law 
than of Gospel. They were striving for the 
" righteousness of the law," rather than for the 
" righteousness of God," the righteousness which 
is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all 
them that believe. 

Thus, of course, they were in bondage, instead 
of rejoicing amid the freedom and the peace of 
the children of God. 

3 



38 THE POET PREACHER. 

It was in this state of mind that Charles, 
shortly after his arival from America, composed 
the following somber, yet beautiful poem, en- 
titled, " Hymn for Midnight :" 

" While midnight shades the earth o'erspread, 

And vail the bosom of the deep, 
Nature reclines her weary head, 

And care respires, and sorrows sleep : 
My soul still aims at nobler rest, 
Aspiring to her Saviour's breast. 

" Aid me, ye hovering spirits near, 

Angels, and ministers of grace ; 
Who ever, while you guard us here, 

Behold your heavenly Father's face ! 
Gently my raptured soul convey 
To regions of eternal day. 

" Fain would I leave this earth below, 

Of pain and sin the dark abode ; 
Where shadowy joy, or solid woe, 

Allures or tears me from my God ; 
Doubtful and insecure of bliss, 
Since death alone confirms me his. 

" Till then, to sorrow born, I sigh, 

And gasp and languish after home ; 
Upward I send my streaming eye. 

Expecting till the Bridegroom come : 
Come quickly, Lord ! thy own receive ; - * 

Now let me see thy face, and live. 



RELIGIOUS STATE. 



39 



11 Absent from thee, my exiled soul 

Deep in a fleshly dungeon groans ; 
Around me clouds of darkness roll, 

And laboring silence speaks my moans : 
Come quickly, Lord ! thy face display, 
And look my midnight into day. 

"Error and sin and death are o'er, 

If thou reverse the creature's doom ; 
Sad Eachel weeps her loss no more 

If thou, the God, the Saviour, come : 
Of thee possess' d, in thee we prove 
The light, the life, the heaven of love." 

The youthful reader will be careful to detect 
a cold and false theology lurking amid this 
elegant poetry. While it sings of a deliverance 
from sin and wretchedness, it discerns no other 
escape than through the doors of death. All is 
bondage here, and must be till the soul departs 
" to regions of eternal day." In after days, 
when his brother John had learned \kdX faith is 
the substance of things hoped for, he substituted 
that mighty word for the word death in the 
third stanza, and thus rendered it as evangelical 
as it is beautiful. 

Yet while the young man thus " walked in 
darkness," and was " under the law" rather than 



40 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



" under grace," he exhibited a religious zeal 
which might shame many who profess to have 
received a greater light. "When he traveled 
in stage-coaches he read pious books to his 
fellow-passengers, endeavored to convince all 
people that religion is an inward and divine 
principle, and that every one should make it his 
first and great concern. In private companies 
he pursued the same course, and often with the 
happiest results." 

Various members of his own family also 
shared in his solicitude and faithfulness ; and 
here, too, he was not unsuccessful. 

It was about this time that Charles visited 
Rev. William Law for the purpose of receiving 
some special instruction from a teacher whom 
he had so long and so greatly revered. Indeed 
it might almost be said that upon the writings 
of William Law he had meditated day and 
night ; and it was mainly through the influence 
of these same writings that both Charles and 
John Wesley had been so long and so sadly mis- 
guided in respect to the true way of salvation. 



RELIGIOUS STATE. 



41 



The interview was well, and was doubtless 
beneficial to Charles, though in a way he never 
anticipated. 

Being introduced to Mr. Law, he beholds " a 
tall, thin, bony man, of a stern and forbidding 
countenance ; sour and repulsive in his spirit and 
manner, resembling, in this respect, the religion 
which he taught." 

Charles unfolds, in full, his spiritual state to 
Mr. Law. 

Mr. Law. Kenounce yourself and be not 
impatient. 

Charles. "With what comment shall I read 
the Scriptures ? 
L. None. 

G. "What do you think of one who dies un- 
renewed while endeavoring after it ? 

L. It concerns neither you to ask nor me 
to answer. 

G. Shall I write once more to such a 
person ? 
L. No. 

C. But I am persuaded it will do him good. 



42 



THE POET PBEACHER. 



Z. Sir, I have told you my opinion. 
C. Shall I write to yon ? 

L. Nothing I can either speak or write will 
do you any good. 

Thus ended the interview ; and the last gruff 
response of Mr. Law contained much more truth 
than falsehood. He was quite unqualified to 
give counsel, by pen or speech, to an inquirer 
after the way of life. His religion, like his 
name, was Law: he seems never to have un- 
derstood the great scheme of the atonement, 
and " he set his pupils upon the hopeless task of 
attaining to holiness while they remained in a 
state of guilt, and while the regenerating Spirit 
was therefore uncommunicated." 



SEAECH FOE FAITH. 

But a brighter day was rapidly approaching 
for Charles Wesley, and by the door of faith he 
was soon to enter into the rest of salvation. 

In February, 1738, he made the acquaintance 



SEARCH FOR FAITH. 



43 



of Peter Bohler, who had just been ordained 
by the Moravian bishop, Count Zinzendorf, as 
a missionary to Georgia. Mr. Bohler was a 
young man of deep and enlightened piety. He 
was also a man of sound learning, having been 
educated at the University of Jena. 

Bohler arrived in England early in February, 
on his way to Georgia, and spent several months 
in London in studying the English language. 
He was also very active, during this interval, in 
efforts to do good. In this work he made the 
best use of his opportunities, and his labors 
were crowned with great success. " It w T as 
under his instruction, more than that of any 
other man, that the two Wesleys were made 
acquainted with the evangelical method of a 
sinner's justification before God, and deliverance 
from the power of his evil nature." In company 
with John Wesley, Bohler visited Oxford ; and 
it was here that Charles first met him, and be- 
came his tutor in the English language. 

Presently Charles is taken dangerously ill, 
and Bohler is summoned to visit him. " I asked 



44 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



him to pray for me," writes Charles. " He 
seemed unwilling at first, but beginning very 
faintly, he raised his voice by degrees, and 
prayed for my recovery with a strange con- 
fidence. Then he took me by the hand and 
calmly said, 6 You will not die now.' He asked 
me, c Do you hope to be saved?' 4 Yes.' 6 For 
what reason do you hope it V £ Because I have 
used my best endeavors to serve God.' He 
shook his head and said no more. I thought 
him very uncharitable, saying in my heart, 
' What ! are not my endeavors a sufficient 
ground of hope ? I have nothing else to 
trust to.' " 

This sickness of Charles seems to have been 
a pleurisy, and came near proving fatal. In in- 
forming his brother John of his illness, he writes, 
in the language of Dr. South : " / have been 
within the jaws of death, but he was not suf- 
fered to shut his mouth upon me" 

As he began to recover, the following fine 
effusion, descriptive of his state of heart, 
dropped from his trembling pen : 



SEARCH FOR FAITH. 



" Peace, fluttering soul ! the storm is o'er, 
Ended at last the doubtful strife ; 

Respiring now, the cause explore, 
That bound thee to a wretched life. 

" When on the margin of the grave, 
Why did I doubt my Saviour's art? 

Ah ! why mistrust his will to save ? 
What meant that faltering of my heart ? 

" 'Twas not the searching pain within 
That filled my coward flesh with fear ; 

Nor conscience of uncancel' d sin ; 
Nor sense of dissolution near. 

" Of hope I felt no joyful ground, 
The fruit of righteousness alone ; 

Naked of Christ my soul I found, 
And started from a God unknown. 

" Corrupt my will, nor half subdued, 
Could I his purer presence bear? 

Unchanged, unhallow'd, unrenew'd, 
Could I before his face appear ? 

u Father of mercies, hear my call ! 

Ere yet returns the fatal hour, 
Repair my loss, retrieve my fall, 

And raise me by thy quick'ning power. 

" My nature re -exchange for thine; 

Be thou my life, my hope, my gain ; 
Arm me in panoply divine, 

And death shall shake his dart in vain. 



46 



THE POET PREACHER. 



" When I thy promised Christ have seen. 
And clasp' d him in my soul's embrace, 

Possess'dof thy salvation, then — 
Then let me, Lord, depart in peace !" 

Until this sickness Charles appears to have 
fully cherished the purpose of returning to 
Georgia as a missionary ; but his physicians for- 
bade the undertaking. He returned to London, 
and immediately suffered a relapse of his terri- 
ble disease. He had been much averse to the 
doctrine of a full and present salvation by faith, 
as taught by Peter Bohler; but he was now 
led to review this important matter, and further 
conversations of Bohler led him to see, far more 
clearly than ever before, "the nature of that 
one true living faith whereby alone, through 
grace, we are saved." 

From this time, and when prostrate on his 
bed of sickness, he earnestly sought for this 
faith. " I have not now the faith of the Gos- 
pel? was his solemn declaration and conviction, 
and he would not rest without it. 

A few brief extracts from his private journal, 



SEARCH FOR FAITH. 



47 



" will best portray the man in this momentous 
crisis of his history. 

" May 12. I waked in the same blessed temper, 
hungry and thirsty after God. I began Isaiah, 
and seemed to see that to me were the promises 
made. I found myself more desirous, more 
assured I should believe. This day, and indeed 
my whole time, I spent in discoursing on faith, 
either with those that had it or those that 
sought it, in reading the Scriptures, and in 
prayer. 

"May 13. I waked without Christ, yet still 
desirous of finding him. ... At night I 
received much light and comfort from the 
Scriptures. 

" May 17. To-day I first saw Luther on the 
Galatians. We began and found hirn nobly full 
of faith. My friend (Mr. Holland) in hearing 
him was so affected as to breathe out sighs and 
groans unutterable. . . . Who would believe 
that our Church had been founded upon this 
important article of justification by faith 
alone ! . . . I labored, waited, and prayed 



48 



THE POET PKEACHEK. 



to feel, " Who loved me, and gave himself 
for me" 

" May 19. Mrs. Turner came, and told me I 
should not rise from that bed till I believed. I 
believed her saying, and asked, c Has God then 
bestowed faith upon you V c Yes, he has.' 

6 Why, have you peace with God V c Yes, 
perfect peace,' 6 And do you love Christ above 
all things V fi I do ; above all things incompara- 
bly.' ' Then, are you willing to die V £ I am ; 
and would be glad to die this moment; for I 
know all my sins are blotted out; the hand- 
writing that was against me is taken out of the 
way, and nailed to the cross. He has saved me 
by his death ; He has washed me with his 
blood ; He has hid me in his wounds. I have 
peace in him, and rejoice with joy unspeakable 
and full of glory.' 

" Her answers were so full, to these and to 
the most searching questions I could ask, that I 
had no doubt of her having received the atone- 
ment, and waited for it myself with a more as- 
sured hope. Feeling an anticipation of joy on 



SEARCH FOR FAITH. 



49 



her account, and thanking Christ as I could, I 
looked for him all night, with prayers, and 
sighs, and unceasing desires." 

"Such," adds'Mr. Jackson, "was the manner 
in which Mr. Charles Wesley waited upon God 
for that great change in his state and character, 
upon which he felt that his peace and safety 
both in time and eternity depended. He was 
humble, penitent, teachable, and persevering. 
He read the Holy Scriptures ; studied the 
promises of God ; was diligent in prayer, both 
social and private ; and almost daily received 
the Lord's supper. In obedience to the divine 
direction, he continued asking, that he might 
receive ; seeking, that he might find ; knocking 
at the door of mercy, that it might be opened ; 
laboring to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, in 
the earnest hope that the Holy Spirit would im- 
part the full power of faith, and then witness 
his adoption, and purify his heart." 



50 



THE POET PKEACHEK. 



SUCCESS. 

On Sunday morning, May 21, 1738, as Charles 
Wesley was praying on his sick bed, having 
pleaded the great promises, and endeavoring 
to rely upon them, he was composing him- 
self to sleep. 

At that moment a female voice spoke at the 
door of his chamber, and said : " In the name of 
Jesus of Nazareth, arise and believe, and thou 
shalt be healed of all thine infirmities." 

The sick man lay wondering, and the words 
struck him to the heart, and he sighed deeply, 
and whispered to himself : " O that Christ 
would but speak thus to me !" His heart sank 
within him, and he hoped that it might be 
Christ indeed, and began tremblingly to say to 
himself, " I believe ! I believe !" 

It seems that the above message, which had 
so startled him, was uttered by the pious Mrs. 
Turner mentioned in the preceding chapter. 
She knew his condition, and his earnest strife 



SUCCESS. 



51 



after saving faith ; yet feeling her own weakness, 
she shrank from approaching a scholar and a 
clergyman, and speaking to him face to face. 

At the same time she appears to have had a 
deep and solemn conviction that she ought thus 
to address the afflicted penitent who was weep- 
ing and praying for pardon and peace, and she 
obeyed her convictions. 

" I never," said Charles, " heard words ut- 
tered with like solemnity. I rose and looked in- 
to the Scriptures. The words that first presented 
were, ' And now, Lord, what is my hope ? Truly, 
my hope is even in thee.' I then cast down my 
eye, and met: c He hath put a new song in my 
mouth, even a thanksgiving unto our God. 
Many shall see it, and fear, and shall put their 
trust in the Lord.' 

"Afterward I opened upon Isaiah xl, 1 : c Com- 
fort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry 
unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that 
her iniquity is pardoned : for she hath received 
of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.' 



52 



THE POET PREACHER. 



" I now found myself at peace with God, and 
rejoiced in hope of loving Christ. My temper, 
for the rest of the day, was mistrust of my own 
great, but before unknown, weakness. I saw 
that by faith I stood ; and the continual support 
of faith, which kept me from falling, though of 
myself I am ever sinking into sin. I went to 
bed still sensible of my own weakness, (I hum- 
bly hope to be more and more so,) yet confident 
of Christ's protection." 

Thus did Charles Wesley, for the first time, 
believe with a heart unto righteousness. Yet 
his early faith was weak, and he held the 
Saviour " with a trembling hand." But as he 
prayed, conversed, and studied the Holy Scrip- 
tures, his confidence increased, and his evidence 
of the divine favor became increasingly distinct 
and vivid. 

On the following Wednesday, May, 24, 1738, 
John Wesley obtained " the like precious 
faith." He, like Charles, had been earnestly 
searching for saving faith, and was greatly en- 
couraged by Charles's happy experience. 



SUCCESS. 



53 



At a meeting on the evening of the day al- 
luded to, he was listening to some one reading 
Luther's " Preface to the Epistle to the Ro- 
mans." "About a quarter before nine," he 
writes, " while he was describing the change 
which God works in the heart through faith in 
Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I 
felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for 
salvation ; and an assurance was given me 
that he had taken away my sins, even 
mine, and saved me from the law of sin and 
death." 

Thus in almost the same hour came forth 
these two brothers from the darkness and strug- 
gles of a merely legal religion, into the peaceful 
world of faith. They ceased to trust in good 
works for salvation and rest, and began to trust 
in Christ alone. "They saw with increasing 
clearness that the Christian faith, which is de- 
scribed in the Acts of the Apostles, and in the 
apostolic Epistles, is not mere assent to the 
general truth of the Gospel, nor a mere belief 

of it essential doctrines, but a personal trust in 

4 



54 



THE POET PREACHER. 



the sacrificial blood of the Son of God, exercised 
in a penitent state of heart, and productive both 
of peace of conscience, and of inward and out- 
ward holiness. This became the principal topic 
of their ministry; and while its truth was to 
them matter of personal consciousness, they saw 
it exemplified in the character of thousands of 
their spiritual children. It was, in fact, under 
God, the great secret of their power, both as 
preachers and writers. Under the divine sanc- 
tion and blessing they received this truth, and 
were qualified to preach it to all men, out of 
the fullness of a heart purified by faith from its 
guilt and natural corruption." 

As Charles Wesley emerged from his long 
darkness into God's marvelous light, he took 
his beautiful harp from the willows, and swept 
it in such strains as these : 

" Where shall my wondering soul begin ? 

How shall I all to heaven aspire ? 
A slave redeem' d from death and sin, 

A brand pluck' d from eternal fire, 
How shall I equal triumph raise 
Or sing my great Deliverer's praise ? 



EARLIEST RESULTS. 



55 



" 0 how shall I the goodness tell, 
Father, which thou to me hast show'd ? 

That I, a child of wrath and hell, 
I should be call'd a child of God, 

Should know, should feel my sins forgiven, 

Bless' cl with this antepast of heaven ! 

" Long my imprison' d spirit lay 
Fast bound in sin and nature's night ; 

Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray ; 
I woke ; the dungeon flamed with light; 

My chains fell off, my heart was free, 

I rose, went forth, and follow' d thee. 

" No condemnation now I dread ; 

Jesus, and all in him, is mine ! 
Alive in him, my living Head, 

And clothed in righteousness divine, 
Bold I approach th' eternal throne, 
And claim the crown through Christ my own." 



EAELIEST EESULTS. 

"The day," says Mr. Jackson, "on which 
Mr. Charles Wesley came to Christ, weary and 
heavy laden, and found rest to his soul, was un- 
questionably the most important period of his 
existence. He then felt that he passed from 
death unto life. His spiritual enjoyments now 



56 



THE POET PREACHER. 



began, in all their richness and depth, and he 
entered upon a course of ministerial usefulness 
of which, up to this period, he had no con- 
ception." 

It appears that his health now rapidly im- 
proved, so that in a few days he was able to go 
abroad. He dwelt much and deeply with the 
Scriptures, wherein he meditated day and night. 
He went from house to house, and ceased not 
daily to teach and preach Jesus Christ. " In 
private companies, where many resorted to 
him, he read the Scriptures, sang hymns, related 
his religious experience, and urged upon all the 
duty and privelege of an immediate application 
to Christ, in faith, for pardon, and peace, and 
holiness. Never did he forget the bright and 
joyous days which immediately followed his 
espousal to Christ; and every remembrance of 
them was refreshing to his heart." 

Some specimens of these early exercises and 
efforts cannot fail to edify as well as interest 
thoughtful and pious hearts. 

In a company of serious persons it was par- 



EARLIEST RESULTS. 



57 



ticularly asked in prayer that some one might 
receive the atonement. One gentleman found 
power to believe, and rose, telling Charles that 
his prayer was heard and answered in him, and 
all were full of joy and thanksgiving. A day 
or two afterward another received faith while 
Charles was praying, though he did not then 
confess it. 

At the same time he speaks of Dr. Byrom, a 
poet, who received the doctrine of faith with 
wonderful readiness. 

Then he makes an excursion to Blendon, and 
as he rides is full of delight, and seems moving 
and expatiating in a new heaven and a new 
earth. He and his traveling companion go 
praying, singing, and shouting, all the way. 

He visits Rev. Mr. Piers, a minister of the 
Established Church, tells him his experience 
with great simplicity. The good man listens 
eagerly, makes no objection, and confesses it is 
what he never experienced. At length he is 
greatly moved — longs to find Christ. The next 
day they pray earnestly with and for him, 



58 



THE POET PREACHEE. 



while Mr. Piers struggles for the blessing of 
faith. Soon he believes, and is filled with joy 
unspeakable. 

He visits the Delamottes, a wealthy and re- 
spectable family residing at Blendon, and com- 
prising the father and mother, two daughters, 
Hetty and Betsy, and several sons. They are 
all religious, but have not learned the faith in 
Christ. He finds the daughters at home, and 
prays that salvation may come to the house im- 
mediately. Betsy soon hears a voice whisper- 
ing to her, " Go thy way, thy sins are forgiven 
thee !" and is filled with joy unspeakable. 
Hetty strives earnestly, and Charles strives in 
her behalf, till at length, in singing, he ob- 
serves her join with mingled fear and joy. 
Presently she declares that she could not 
but believe that Christ died for her, even 
for her. 

The maid also, hearing him read how that 
" He hath made Christ to be sin for us, who 
knew no sin, that we might be made the right- 
eousness of God in him," is filled with conso- 



EARLIEST RESULTS, 



59 



lation, and believes that Christ died for her, 
and feels that her sins are forgiven. 

A day or two afterward Jack Delamotte 
calls upon Charles, in London, and tells him 
that when he was at Blendon, and singing, 
one day, of Christ, 

" Who for me, for me hath died," 

he found the words sink into his soul, and he 
could have sung them forever, and was full of 
delight and joy. 

Charles feels much for William Delamotte, 
who is a student at Cambridge, and now on a 
visit home. He discourses with him on faith 
and free grace ; William objects. They walk to 
church together, and Charles again tells him of 
the glad tidings of salvation. William is heavy 
and miserable. " We are justified freely by 
faith alone," is a saying he cannot receive. He 
calls on Charles the next day ; tells him he had 
been writing against the doctrines of faith, but 
having written two sheets, he, in searching for 
texts, read, "Not by works of righteousness 



60 



THE POET PREACHER. 



which we have done, but according to his 
mercy he saved us." And this spoiled all, and 
convinced him of his error. 

They proceed to pray, and Charles pleads 
the promises for him with great earnestness. 
Three days after he recieves a note from Wil- 
liam, telling him that God had heard his prayers. 
" O my friend !" he exclaims. " I am free in- 
deed ! I agonized some time between darkness 
and light ; but God was greater than my heart, 
and burst the cloud, and broke down the parti- 
tion wall, and opened to me the door of faith." 

While Charles was praying for William De- 
lamotte, as just related, a poor man. Heather by 
name, came in to talk with him. 

Heather. I heard and liked your sermon on 
faith. 

Wesley. Have you faith ? 
II Ko. 

W. Have you the forgiveness of sins ? 
H. So. 

W. Can there be any good in you till you 

believe ? 



EARLIEST RESULTS. 



61 



H. No. 

W. But do yon think that Christ cannot give 
you faith and forgiveness in this hour ? 

H. Yes ; to be sure he can. 

W. And do you believe his promise, that 
where two of his disciples shall agree upon 
earth as touching anything they shall ask of 
him, he will give it them ? 
H. I do. 

W. Why, then, here is your minister, and I 
agree with him to ask faith for you. 

II. Then I believe I shall receive it before I 
go out of this room. 

To prayer they went ; and rising and asking 
him whether he believed, he replied, "Yes, I do 
believe with all my heart. I believe Christ 
died for my sins ; I know they are all forgiven. 
I desire only to love him. I would suffer any- 
thing for him ; could lay down my life for him 
this moment." 

Mrs. Delamotte proved a more obstinate 
case. At first she was civil. Charles preached 
faith in her hearing. The next day, he calls on 



62 



THE POET PREACHER. 



her at her house. She falls abruptly upon the 
sermon for its false doctrine. Much dispute 
ensues. At length she starts up and runs out 
of the house, protesting she could not bear the 
conversation. After a time her daughter Betsy 
prevails upon her to return. 

A week afterward Charles hears that Mrs. 
Delamotte is convinced of unbelief, and much 
ashamed of her treatment of him. Presently 
she sends for him, explains her conduct, hears 
him further concerning the faith in Christ, and 
is thoroughly convinced. At length she becomes 
completely humbled, and Charles continued in- 
stant in prayer and intercessions in her behalf. 

Four days after the above interview with 
Mrs. Delamotte, he receives a letter from her 
son William, wherein were the following words 
concerning his mother : 

" She continued agonizing all the evening. 
But how can I utter the sequel? The first 
object of her thoughts the next morning was 
Christ. She saw him approaching ; and seeing, 
loved, believed, adored. Her prayers drew 



FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. 



63 



him still nearer, and everything she saw con- 
curred to hasten the embrace of her Beloved. 
Thus she continued in the Spirit till four ; when, 
reading in her closet, she received the kiss of 
reconciliation. Her own soul could not con- 
tain the joys attending it. She could not for- 
bear imparting to her friends and neighbors 
that she had found the piece which she had 
lost. 55 

Such is a specimen of the zeal and the suc- 
cess of Charles Wesley in his earliest efforts to 
awaken and promote the faith which brings a 
present salvation. It was an auspicious morn- 
ing of the brilliant and glorious day that was 
to succeed. 



FUBTHEK DEVELOPMENTS. 

It was now the autumn of 1738, and Charles 
Wesley "began to be about thirty years of 
age. 55 Himself and his brother John had of 
late obtained the " precious faith 55 which saves 



64 



THE POET PREACHER. 



from sin, and is the root of all true righteous- 
ness. John had been spending some months in 
Germany, on a visit to the Moravians, and had 
learned much from their goodly discipline and 
order, and from their deep and sound Scriptural 
experience. 

On his return the two brothers began to co- 
operate with each other for the advancement of 
true religion. Their plan was to preach in 
such churches as were open to them, and hold 
" meetings for conversation, prayer, singing, 
mutual exhortations, and Scriptural exposi- 
tion." 

Up to this time Charles had always read his 
sermons from the pulpit. But he now began to 
exercise himself in extemporary speaking, and 
thus acquired a boldness and facility of speak- 
ing, and a self-command which surprised him- 
self as w T ell as others, and thus it was that he 
became at length one of the most fluent and 
impressive preachers of his age. 

The influence of his preaching, as well as 
that of his brother, began now to be felt among 



FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. 65 



the more openly profligate and wicked. Many 
of these were brought to repentance, the genu- 
ineness and sincerity of which were evinced by 
a reformed life. 

But neither of the brothers had, at this time, 
the slightest intention of departing from the es- 
tablished order of the Church of which they 
were ministers. Hence, when unfavorable re- 
ports of their proceedings reached the ears of the 
higher officers of the Church, they lost no time 
in waiting upon these dignitaries, for the pur- 
pose of defending themselves, and also of solicit- 
ing episcopal advice and sanction. They con- 
ferred with the Bishop of London and the Arch- 
bishop of Canterbury, by both of whom they 
seem to have been treated, at first, with kindness. 

But Charles's ardent spirit, and especially his 
doctrine of salvation by faith alone, gave great 
offense, and provoked much opposition. He 
preached at Bexley, in the church of the good 
Mr. Piers, already mentioned. A part of the 
congregation retire from the church while he is 
preaching, and the vicar is alarmed. 



66 



THE POET PREACHER. 



At the request of Mr. Stonehouse, vicar of 
Islington, Charles became his curate. But he 
met with the most determined opposition in the 
discharge of his clerical duties. The bishop had 
not given his sanction to the arrangement be- 
tween the curate and the vicar, and this 
strengthened the opposition. The church-ward- 
ens would meet him in the vestry, before the 
commencement of divine service, and annoy 
him by asking to see the bishop's license to his 
curacy. At another time, and in the same place, 
they would proceed to revile him, telling him 
that he was full of the devil, and all others who 
thought with him. Having failed to drive him 
away by these means, they proceeded to greater 
extremes, and took their position at the foot of 
the pulpit stairs, so that when, after prayers, the 
preacher attempted to ascend the pulpit, they 
forcibly prevented him, regardless of the pres- 
ence of the congregation, as well as of all de- 
cency. The matter was presented to the Bishop 
of London, who justified the church-wardens in 
their conduct, 



FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. 



67 



Thus was Charles compelled to seek other 
fields for the exercise of his ministry than the 
pulpits of his Church. He was literally expelled 
by violence, and that violence received the 
sanction of the diocesan. 

Similar treatment awaited his brother John. 
It soon transpired that for the most part, when 
he had preached in a church, he was notified, at 
the conclusion of the service, that he must oc- 
cupy that pulpit no more. 

Mr. Whitefield met the same fate. He had 
just returned from a missionary excursion to 
Georgia, and was making collections in behalf 
of an orphan asylum in that foreign land. At- 
tempting to present his cause in Bristol, it was 
not long before he was excluded from every 
pulpit in that city connected with the Estab- 
lished Church. 

What was the matter with these men ? There 
were two difficulties. One was that they 
preached the offensive doctrine of salvation by 
faith alone ; and the second was, that such 
multitudes flocked to hear the preaching that 



68 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



the pew-holders were subjected to serious incon- 
venience. So much heat and crowding were 
too irksome and vexatious to be bome ! 

But God had his eye upon all this, and he 
had his great and wise designs in permitting so 
disgraceful and wicked an outrage. We shall 
see forthwith the interpretation. Clergymen 
and church-wardens may lock up their pulpit 
doors against God's ministers, and bishops may 
uphold them in such conduct. Nevertheless, 
"the earth is the Lord's and the fullness 
thereof." 



FIELD PKEACHING. 

Field preaching was the result of excluding 
Whitefield and the Wesleys from the pulpits of 
the Established Church. 

Whitefield led the van in this novel and 
great enterprise. John Wesley follows with 
equal steps. "I could at first scarcely reconcile 
myself," he says, "to this strange way of preach- 
ing in the fields, of which he set me an example 




FIELD PREACHING. 



FIELD PREACHING. 



71 



on Sunday. Having been all my life (till very 
lately) so tenacious of every point relating to 
decency and order, I should have thought the 
saving of souls almost a sin, if it had not been 
done in the church." 

And Charles was not behind. A farmer 
wants him to preach in his field, and he com- 
plies. Then a Quaker presses him to preach in 
the street, and he preaches to about a thousand 
persons. The next day he preaches again, and 
many are moved under the word. Then he 
preaches in Moorfields to ten thousand people, 
and invites them to come to the Saviour and 
find rest. Presently he preaches at Kennington 
Common to " multitudes upon multitudes," 
calling upon them to "repent and believe the 
Gospel ;" and he writes that the Lord was his 
"strength, and mouth, and wisdom." He con- 
tinues preaching at Moorfields and Kennington 
Common to immense assemblies, and to the 
great joy and spiritual benefit of many. 

He is at this time in labors more abundant, 

visiting prisoners, praying with penitents, ex- 

5 



72 



THE POET PKEACIIEE. 



pounding the Scriptures in private houses, and 
often preaching in the open air, sometimes to 
twenty thousand persons. If it be asked how 
he was enabled to accomplish so much, he him- 
self distinctly answers that " he received assist- 
ance from above. He lived in the spirit of 
prayer; he laid hold upon the strength Divine by 
a mighty faith, and he realized the fulfillment 
of the promise, I am with you always." 

For some years from this time, Charles 
Wesley is represented as a prince of preachers, 
surpassed by no other man since the apostolic 
times in power and efficiency, and the people 
everywhere fell under his word like grass under 
the scythe of the mower. 

Here we have a picture of one of these great 
assemblies, drawn by the minister : 

" Thousands," writes Charles, " stood in the 
churchyard. It was the most beautiful sight I 
ever beheld. The people filled the gradually 
rising area, which was shut upon three sides by 
a vast perpendicular hill. On the top and 
bottom of this hill was a circular row of trees. 



FIELD PEEACHING. 



In this amphitheater they stood, deeply at- 
tentive, while I called upon them, in Christ's 
words, fi Come unto me all that are weary.' The 
tears of many testified that they were ready to 
enter into that rest. God enabled me to lift up 
my voice like a trumpet, so that all distinctly 
heard me. I concluded with singing an invita- 
tion to sinners. It was with difficulty we made 
our way through this most loving people, and 
returned, amid their prayers and blessings, to 
Ebley." 

Here we have a picture of a similar scene, 
drawn by another than the minister, by a Cal- 
vinist Dissenter : 

"Hearing that Mr. Charles Wesley would 
preach in the afternoon just out of the city, I 
got a guide, and went to hear him. I found 
him standing upon a table, in an. erect posture, 
with his hands and eyes lifted up to heaven in 
prayer, surrounded with, I guess, more than a 
thousand people ; some few of them persons of 
fashion, both men and women, but most of them 
of the lower rank of mankind. I know not 



74 



THE POET PREACHER. 



how long he had been engaged in the duty be- 
fore I came, but he continued therein, after my 
coming, scarcely a quarter of an hour, during 
which time he prayed with uncommon fer- 
vency, fluency, and variety of proper expres- 
sion. He then preached about an hour, from 
2 Cor. v, 17-21, in such a manner as I have 
seldom, if ever, heard any minister preach ; 
that is, though I have heard many a finer ser- 
mon, according to the common taste, yet I have 
scarcely ever heard any minister discover such 
evident signs of a most vehement desire, or 
labor so earnestly to convince his hearers that 
they were all by nature in a state of enmity 
against God, consequently in a damnable state, 
and needed reconciliation to God ; that God is 
willing to be reconciled to all, even the worst 
of sinners, and for that end hath laid all our sin 
on Christ, and Christ hath borne the punish- 
ment due to our sins in our nature and stead ; 
that, on the other hand, the righteousness and 
merits of Christ are imparted to as many as be- 
lieve on him ; that it is faith alone, exclusive 



FIELD PREACHING. 



75 



entirely of any works of ours, which applies to 
lis the righteousness of Christ, and justifies us in 
the sight of God ; that none are excluded but 
those who refuse to come to him as lost, un- 
done, yea, as damned sinners, and trust in him 
alone, that is, in his meritorious righteousness 
and atoning sacrifice, for pardon and salvation. 
These points he supported all along, as he went 
on, with many texts of Scripture, which he ex- 
plained and illustrated ; and then freely invited 
all, even the chief of sinners, and used a great 
variety of the most moving arguments and ex- 
postulations, in order to persuade, allure, in- 
stigate, and, if possible, compel all to come to 
Christ, and believe in him for pardon and 
salvation. 

" Nor did he fail to inform them thoroughly, 
how ineffectual their faith would be to justify 
them in the sight of God, unless it wrought by 
love, purified their hearts, and reformed their 
lives ; for though he cautioned them, with the 
utmost care, not to attribute any merit to their 
own performances, nor in the least degree rest 



76 



THE POET PREACHER. 



upon any works of their own ; yet, at the same 
time, he apprized them that their faith is but a 
dead faith if it be not operative and productive 
of good works, even all the good in their power." 

The same hand describes, as follows, a subse- 
quent evening meeting of one of the societies, 
when Charles Wesley prayed and expounded : 

" Never did I hear such praying, or such 
singing — never did I see and hear such evident 
marks of fervency of spirit in the service of God 
• — as in that society. At the close of every sin- 
gle petition, a serious amen, like a rushing 
sound of waters, ran through the whole society ; 
and their singing was not only the most har- 
monious and delightful I ever heard, but, as Mr. 
Whitefield writes in his Journals, they 6 sung 
lustily, and with a good courage.' I never so 
well understood the meaning of that expression 
before. Indeed, they seemed to sing with melo- 
dy in their hearts. It is impossible for any man 
to try another's heart; neither would I dare to 
invade the Divine prerogative ; but this I will 
venture to say : such evident marks of a lively, 



OPPOSITION. 



77 



genuine devotion, in any part of religious wor- 
ship, I never was witness to in any place, or on 
any occasion. If there be such a thing as 
heavenly music upon earth, I heard it there. 
If there be such an employment, such an attain- 
ment, as that of a heaven upon earth, numbers 
in that society seem to possess it. As for my 
own part, I do not remember my heart to have 
been so elevated in prayer and praise, either in 
collegiate, parochial, or private worship, as it 
was there and then." 



OPPOSITION. 

The extraordinary career in which Charles 
Wesley and his brother John were now fully 
launched failed not to excite stern opposition, 
and that, too, from various sources. Their field- 
preaching, and their more private assemblies for 
worship, and for the revival of religion, came 
under the ban of the Church authorities, as 
being irregular and unlawful. At the same time, 



78 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



the great central doctrine of salvation by faith 
seemed equally distasteful to theologues and 
carnal professors. Also their pungent and 
powerful addresses in preaching, and the earn- 
estness and fervor with which they pressed the 
necessity of regeneration in order to salvation, 
kindled fierce opposition among the high and 
the low. Still further, the multiplication of con- 
verts, and the spirit of religious inquiry that was 
awakened in various places, provoked opposition 
from not a few. 

One or two brief illustrations may, perhaps, 
entertain the reader. 

Charles is summoned into the presence of the 
Archbishop of Canterbury. He is proceeding 
to make a statement.* 

Archhishop. I do not dispute. What call 
have you ? 

Charles. A dispensation of the Gospel is com- 
mitted to me. 

A. That is, to St. Paul ; but I do not dispute, 

and mil not proceed to excommunicate yet. 

* S^e Froiatispiece, 



opposition. 7 9 

C. Your grace has taught me, in your book 
on Church government, that a man unjustly ex- 
communicated is not thereby cast off from com- 
munion with Christ. 

A. Of that I am the judge. 

C. Is not Mr. Whitefield's success a spiritual 
sign, and sufficient proof of his call 

The archbishop's reply to this question is 
not given, but he dismisses Charles from his 
presence with every mark of displeasure. 

This dark and threatening interview was 
on Thursday. Charles returned from the pal- 
ace in peace, and on the very next Sabbath 
preached in the open air at Moorfields to 
ten thousand sinners. This was in the 
morning. In the afternoon, on Kennington 
CortLmon, he preached again to an immense 
multitude. 

We are here reminded of the apostle, as in 
view of threatening perils he exclaimed : " None 
of these things move me, neither count I my 
life dear unto myself so that I may finish my 
course with joy, and the ministry I have re- 



80 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



ceived of the Lord Jesus to testify the Gospel of 
the grace of God." 

The archbishop talked of excommunication ; 
"but," says Mr. Jackson, "he reconsidered the 
subject, and wisely forbore to execute his threat. 
Perhaps he recollected that the Son of God 
preached upon a mountain, and on a plain, and 
addressed multitudes on the sea-shore as he sat 
in a fishing-boat ; and that the apostle of the 
Gentiles preached Jesus and the resurrection to 
the inquisitive Athenians as he stood upon 
Mars' hill. It would indeed have been an un- 
seemly thing for a man invested with ecclesias- 
tical authority, and professing to derive that 
authority from the Lord Jesus, in a direct line 
from the apostles, to impose silence upon Chris- 
tian ministers, and even expel them from the 
congregation of the faithful, for doing that 
which the Lord himself, and the holy apostles 
under his direct sanction, had recommended by 
their daily practice. The Protestant Church of 
England was preserved from the deep dishonor 
of an act so thoroughly antichristian," 



OPPOSITION". 



81 



The following presents a specimen of opposi- 
tion of a somewhat different character : 

Charles goes to Bengew r orth and calls for his 
friend, Mr. Seward. He being sick, sends his 
brother Henry in his stead, who, coming into 
Charles's presence, charges him with the down- 
fall of his brother, picking his pockets, ruining 
his family, and proceeds to call him a scoundrel 
and rascal, and threatens to whip him. Much 
other disturbance and abuse follow from this 
impudent young man, when, on a subsequent 
visit to the place, Charles and Henry meet 
again. 

Henry. Please step into the Crown. 

Charles. I do not frequent taverns. 

H. What business have you with my brother ? 

G Can you imagine, if I have any business 
w 7 ith him as a Christian, I shall communicate it 
to you ? 

H. Why not to me ? 

G Because you are a natural man. 

H. Why are not you a natural man, as 
well as I ? 



82 THE POET PREACHER. 

G. You are a mere natural man, in your 
sins, and in your blood. 

H. What do you mean by that? I say, 
have you any particular business ? 

C. I have business at present somewhat 
different from talking with you. 

Thus ended the interview, and the next day 
the two met again, when Henry apologized 
for his past behavior, and excused himself 
by saying that anger was rooted in his 
nature. 

Henry. But indeed, sir, you are the down- 
fall of my brother Benjamin. He has certainly 
been out of his senses. 

Charles. Yes, and so have I been before 
now in a fever. 

H. O, but we all really think him mad, 
through means of you. 

C. Very likely you may; and if it should 
ever please God to make you a Christian, you 
will be thought mad too. 

H. God make me a Christian ! I am a better 
Christian than you are. 



OPPOSITION. 



83 



C. You was once in the way of being one. 
but you have stifled your convictions. 

H. I say I am a better Christian than you 
are. I have good ministers and the Scriptures 
to teach me. 

C. Yes; and those Scriptures say a man that 
loves money is no more a Christian than an 
adulterer. 

H. What, sir, must not a man love money ? 
How shall he go to market without it ? Not that 
I value it, not I. But what do you mean by 
making divisions in our family? You come 
now to get money. 

C. Indeed, sir, you know not what I come for ; 
you judge me by your own standard ; money is 
your God, and you think I come to rob you of it. 

H. You are a rascal, a villain, and a pick- 
pocket. 

But Charles was compelled to encounter 
opposition of a much more painful character. 
We have seen, in the pages preceding, how 
great a blessing his ministry had proved to the 
Delamotte family. 



84 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



Will it be believed that all of these, under 
the influence of the German quietism, had turn- 
ed aside from the ordinances and the faith of 
the Gospel ? Charles visited them at Blendon, 
with some faint hope of reclaiming them to their 
first faith and love. As he endeavored to rea- 
son with the deluded mother and daughters, 
they repeatedly bade him be silent. At length 
Charles said : " Do you therefore, at this time, 
in the presence of J esus Christ, acquit, release, 
and discharge me from any further care, concern, 
or regard for your souls ? Do you desire I would 
never more speak unto you in his name V Bet- 
ty frankly answered, 'Yes.' Mrs. Delamotte 
assented by her silence. 'Then hare,,' said I, 
' I take my leave of you, till we meet at the 
judgment-seat V With these words I rendered 
up my charge to God. 

" ' Then,' said I, after leaving them ? ' I have 
labored in vain ; I have spent my strength for 
naught : yet surely my judgment is with the 
Lord, and my work with my God. Surely this 
is enough to wean and make me cease from 



INCIDENTS. 



85 



man. With Blendon I give up all expectation 
of gratitude upon earth. Yanity of vanities, all 
is vanity ; even friendship itself P " 

Such are but a specimen. It was emphati- 
cally true of the Wesleys, that a great and 
effectual door was opened unto them, but there 
were many adversaries. 



INCIDENTS. 

Yet amid all opposition Charles is not dis- 
couraged ; his earnest and buoyant spirit towers 
above discouragements, and glides over tumults 
and obstacles as easily as the floating sea-bird- 
rises over the waves of the surging ocean. 

Sprightly and pleasant are the notices^rop- 
ping from his pen of his preachings and varied 
exercises and movements. 

One summer day he preached five times in as 
many different places, and writes that " preach- 
ing five times a day, when God calls me to it, 



86 



THE POET PKEACHER. 



no more wears the flesh than preaching once." 
One of these sermons was at Bath. " Satan 
took it ill," he says, " to be attacked in his 
own quarters — that Sodom of our land. "While 
I was explaining the trembling jailer's question, 
he raged horribly in his children. They went 
out and came back again, and mocked, and at 
last roared, as if each man's name was Legion. 
My power increased with the opposition." 

He preached in Porthkerry, in Wales. " God 
was among us," said he, " and a mighty tempest 
was stirred up round about him. Never hath 
he given me more convincing words. The poor 
simple souls fell down at the feet of Jesus." 

He encounters a clergyman, Mr. Carne, who 
is offended at the multitude that flock to 
Charles's preaching. He stands up during all 
the sermon of two hours, and is compelled to 
see the great company of mourners, and the 
abundance of tears under the sermon. After 
service he says to Charles : " Sir, you have got 
very good lungs, but you will make the people 
melancholy. I saw them crying throughout 



INCIDENTS. 



87 



the church." Then Came turned to the gen- 
tleman that entertained Charles, saying : " You 
will make yourself ridiculous all over the coun- 
try by encouraging such a fellow." 

He goes to a revel in a certain town, and en- 
deavors to dissuade them from what they deem 
their innocent diversions. An old dame of 
threescore falls down under the stroke of the 
hammer, who could never before be convinced 
of the harm of dancing. 

He preaches to some prisoners under sen- 
tence of death. The most hardened one, of 
which he had the least hope, appears truly 
justified, and declares that he has no fears of 
death, and no ill-will toward his persecutors. 
" But have you not had any fear of death ?" 
"Yes," he replied, "till I heard you preach; 
then it went away, and I have felt no trouble 
ever since.' 

He visits a magistrate at Kingswood, who 
was the most forward of all the adversaries 
there, and had threatened seizure of their school 
for the colliers. 

6 



88 



THE POET PEE A CHER. 



Charles. I came to wait upon you in respect 
to your office, having heard that you were of- 
fended at the good we were doing to the poor 
colliers. I should be sorry to give you any just 
cause of complaint. 

Justice. Your school here would make a good 
work-house. 

G. It is a work-house already. 

J. Aye, but what work is done there ? 

C. We work the works of God, which man 
cannot hinder. 

J. But you occasion the increase of our poor. 

C. Sir, you are misinformed ; the reverse of 
that is true. None of our society is chargeable 
to you; even those who were so before they 
heard us, who spent all their wages at the ale- 
house, now never go there at all, but keep their 
money to maintain their families, and have to 
give to those who want. Notorious swearers 
have now only the praises of God in their 
mouths. The good done among them is indis- 
putable : our worst enemies can't deny it. None 
who hear us continue either to swear or drink. 



INCIDENTS. 



89 



J. If I thought so I would come and hear you 
myself. 

C. Come ! the grace of God is as sufficient for 
you as for our colliers. 

J. I shall not at all concern myself, for if 
what you do you do for gain, you have your 
reward ; if for the sake of God, he will recom- 
pense you. I am of Gamaliel's mind : " If this 
work be of men it will come to naught." 

0. " But if it be of God ye cannot overthrow 
it; lest, ha,ply, ye be found to fight against 
God." Therefore follow Gamaliel's advice : 
" Take heed to yourselves ; refrain from these 
men, and let them alone." 

" He seemed determined so to do," adds 
Charles ; " and thus, through the blessing of 
God, we parted friends." 

At St. Ives, Charles hears the rector preach. 
The application of his sermon is downright rail- 
ing at the " new sect," " the enemies of the 
Church, seducers, troublers, scribes and phari- 
sees, hypocrites." Charles keeps a quiet heart 
and steady countenance. 



90 



THE POET PREACHER. 



At Wednock he hears a curate preach, and 
his text is "Beware of false prophets " "I stood 
over against him," writes Charles, " within two 
yards of the pulpit, and heard such a hotch- 
potch of railing, foolish lies, as Satan himself 
might have been ashamed of. I had asked that 
my countenance might not alter, and was kept 
in perfect peace. The poor people behaved 
very decently, and all followed me to hear the 
true word of God. I stayed, and mildly told 
the preacher he had been misinformed. ' ]S["o,' 
he answered ; ' it was all truth.' 6 Sir,' said I, 
4 if you believe what you preach you believe a 
lie.' ' You are a liar,' he replied. I put him in 
mind of the great day, testified my good-will, 
and left him." 



PERSECUTIONS. 



91 



PEKSECUTIONS. 

Five years had now passed since the Wesleys 
had obtained the precious faith of the Gospel, 
and had entered upon their peculiar ministry, 
proclaiming earnestly and in multitudes of 
places the great salvation by Christ. We have 
seen that opposition had already arrayed itself 
against them, and it is a most significant and 
melancholy fact that this opposition commenced 
in the heart of the Church of which they were 
accredited ministers. They were soon excluded 
from most of the pulpits of the Established 
Church, while in many places the clergy were 
not satisfied with withdrawing from them all 
ministerial courtesy, but were concerned, in 
connection with magistrates, in stirring up the 
rabble to the most violent and disgraceful 
opposition. 

Charles Wesley, for example, is at Walsal. 
He walks through the town amid the noisy 
greetings of enemies. As he preaches, stand- 



92 



THE POET PREACHER. 



ing on the steps of the market-house, "the 
floods lifted up their voices and raged horribly. 
The streets were full of fierce Ephesian beasts, 
who roared, and shouted, and threw stones in- 
cessantly. Many struck without hurting me. 
I besought them in calm love to be reconciled 
to God in Christ. While I was departing a 
stream of ruffians was suffered to bear me from 
the steps. I rose, and having given the blessing, 
was beaten down again." 

In Sheffield the clergy had succeeded in in- 
flaming the public mind, so that during his 
stay a mob assembled and pulled down the 
Methodist chapel, which had been erected by 
the liberality of a poor people. 

He goes to the society house to preach, and 
"hell from beneath is moved to oppose him. 
No sooner does he enter the desk than the 
floods lift up their voice. An officer contra- 
dicted and blasphemed. The preacher takes no 
notice of him, but sings on. Meanwhile the 
stones fly on, hitting the desk and people. The 
preacher gives notice that he will preach in the 




CHARLES WESLEY IN A MOB. 



PERSECUTIONS. 



95 



open air; and as he goes out the whole army 
of aliens follow him, and he preaches the Gospel 
with much contention, the stones often hitting 
him in the face while he is speaking. The ser- 
mon being finished, Charles prays for sinners as 
servants of their master, the devil. Whereupon 
the officer rushes upon him with great fury, 
threatening revenge, draws his sword and 
points it^at the breast of the minister. "My 
breast was immediately steeled. I threw it 
open, and fixing mine .eye on his, smiled in his 
face, and calmly said, fi I fear God, and honor 
the king.' His countenance fell in a moment ; 
he fetched a deep sigh, put up his sword, and 
quickly left the place." 

They followed Charles to his lodgings, and 
greater outrages succeeded through the night. 
"They pressed hard," said Charles, "to break 
open the door. I would have gone out to them, 
but the brethren would not suffer me. They 
labored all night for their master, and by morn- 
ing had pulled down one end of the house. I 
could compare them to nothing but the men of 



96 



THE POET PREACHER. 



Sodom ; or those coming out of the tombs, ' ex- 
ceeding fierce.' Their outcries often waked me 
in the night: yet I believe I got more sleep 
than any of my neighbors." 

The next day this undaunted soldier of Christ 
proposes to preach in the heart of the town, and 
went forth nothing doubting. As he goes, he 
hears the enemy shouting from afar. He stands 
up in the midst of the multitude and proclaims, 
" If God be for us, who can be against us." He 
adds : " God made bare his arm in the sight of 
the heathen, and so restrained the fierceness of 
men, that not one lifted up hand or voice 
against us." 

After preaching he retires to his lodgings 
through the open street, with the multitude at 
his heels. As he passes he sees the preaching- 
house, with " not one stone upon another," and 
as he looks he reminds himself that "the foun- 
dation of God standeth sure," and thinks of the 
house not made with hands, eternal in the 
heavens. 

All is quiet till he enters his lodgings. Then 



PERSECUTIONS. 



97 



the mob renew their violence, threatening to 
level the house to the ground ; the windows are 
smashed in an instant, and the poor owner, in 
his fright, seems " ready to give up his shield." 
Yet the rebels were overawed ; one of the stur- 
diest of them was captured, and carried into the 
house, and in a few minutes the hated and de- 
spised minister was wrapped in sweet sleep, in 
the very room which the mob had just disman- 
tled. " I feared no cold," he said, " but dropped 
asleep with that word, 6 Scatter thou the people 
that delight in war." 5 

Thence Charles goes to Thorpe, having been 
notified that the people of that place were ex- 
ceeding mad against him. Approaching the 
town, an ambush of rowdies suddenly arose 
from their concealment, and assault him with 
stones, eggs, and mud. With much difficulty 
he and his traveling companion force their 
way through the mob. Returning to them, he 
asks the reason a clergyman may not pass with- 
out such treatment. At first they scatter ; then 
their captain, rallying them, answers with horri- 



98 



THE POET PREACHER. 



ble imprecations, and stones that would have 
killed both man and beast, had they not been 
turned aside by an unseen hand. 

Charles's horse takes fright and runs away 
with him, the rabble following with hideous 
shoutings. Yet he finds a place of refuge, 
" meets many sincere souls assembled to hear the 
word of God. Never have I known a greater 
power of love. All were drowned in tears, yet 
very happy. . . . We rejoiced in the God of 
our salvation, who hath compassed us about 
with songs of deliverance." About six weeks 
afterward Charles is at St. Ives, walking to- 
ward the market-house for the purpose of 
preaching to the multitudes. When we came 
to the place of battle the enemy was ready, set 
in array against us. I began the hundredth 
psalm, and they beating their drums and 
shouting. I stood still and silent for some time, 
finding they would not receive my testimony. 
I then offered to speak to some of the most 
violent ; but they stopped their ears and ran 
upon me, crying, I should not preach there, 



PERSECUTIONS. 



99 



and catching at me to pull me down. They 
had no power to touch me. My soul was calm 
and fearless. I shook off the dust of my feet, 
and walked leisurely through the thickest of 
them, who followed like ramping and roaring 
lions. But their mouth was shut. We met 
the mayor, who saluted us, and threatened the 
rioters. I rejoiced at my lodgings in one al- 
mighty Jesus." 

One specimen more must suffice, and it shall 
be given in Charles's own words : 

" I had just named my text at St. Ives, 6 Com- 
fort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your 
God ! ' when an army of rebels broke in upon us, 
like those at Sheffield or Wednesbury. They be- 
gan in a most outrageous manner, threatening 
to murder the people if they did not go out 
that moment. They broke the sconces, dashed 
the windows in pieces, bore away the shutters, 
benches, poor-box, and all but the stone walls. 

"I stood silently looking on, but my eyes 
were unto the Lord. They swore bitterly I 
should not preach there again ; which I imme- 



100 



THE POET PKEACIIEE. 



diately disproved by telling them Christ died 
for them all. Several times they lifted up their 
hands and clubs to strike me ; but a stronger 
arm restrained them. They beat and dragged 
the women about, particularly one of a great 
age, and trampled on them without mercy. 

" The longer they stayed, and the more they 
raged, the more power I found from above. I 
bade the people stand still and see the salvation 
of God, resolving to continue with them and see 
the end. 

" In about an hour the word came, ' Hitherto 
shalt thou come, and no further.' The ruffians 
fell to quarreling among themselves, broke the 
town clerk's (their captain's) head, and drove 
one another out of the room. 

" Having kept the field, we gave thanks for 
the victory, and in prayer the Spirit of glory 
rested upon us." 

Thus it was that for a series of years the 
Wesleys, in the strong evangelical career which 
they had undertaken, were doomed to encoun- 
ter opposition and persecution worthy of the 



PERSECUTIONS. 



101 



gloom and fanaticism of the dark ages. Spirit- 
ual religion in the Establishment, and among 
Dissenters, was at a low ebb. The land seems to 
have been greatly given up to drunkenness, riot- 
ing, and violence. Police regulations and restric- 
tions were loosely and partially administered; 
and in most cases the ministers of justice were 
enemies of the evangelical movement, and often 
took sides with the mob, and refused to defend 
the oppressed ministers and people. 

" I preached," writes Charles, " near Pen- 
zance, to the little flock, encompassed by 
ravening wolves. Their minister rages above 
measure against this new sect, who are spread 
throughout his four livings. His reverend 
brethren follow his example. The grossest lies 
which are brought them they swallow without 
examination, and retail the following Sunday. 
One of the society, James Duke, went lately to 
the worshipful the Rev. Dr. Borlase for justice 
against a rioter who had broken open his house 
and stolen his goods. The doctor's answer was : 
' Thou conceited fellow ! art thou turned relig- 



102 



THE POET PPvEACIIEK. 



ions? They may burn thy house if they will. 
Thou shalt have no justice. 5 With these words 
he drove him from the judgment-seat." 
Under date of next day, he writes again : 
" One of our sisters complained to the mayor 
of some who had thrown into her house stones 
of many pounds weight, which fell on the 
pillow within a few inches of her sucking child. 
The magistrate cursed her, and said, c You shall 
have no justice here. You see there is none for 
you at London, or you w r ould have got it before 
now. 5 With this saying he drove her out of his 
house." 

But enough of these sickening details. Yet 
it is well that the young should have some 
view, though it be but a glimpse, of the terri- 
ble and constant opposition and the multiplied 
sufferings under which the Wesleyan Ref- 
ormation arose, and against which it triumphed 
gloriously. 



THE GWYISTOTSS. 



103 



THE G WYNNES. 

Charles Wesley was now forty years of 
age, and was as yet unmarried. Ten years he had 
been occupied, in connection with his brother 
John, in a most arduous and prosperous minis- 
try ; yet a ministry of such a peculiar character 
as to appear to render it inexpedient to encum- 
ber themselves with families. 

"I have always had a fear," said Charles, 
" but no thought of marrying for many years 
past, even from my first preaching the Gospel." 

He immediately adds, however : " But within 
this twelvemonth that thought has forced itself 
in : ' How know I whether it be best for me to 
marry or no?' Certainly better now than later; 
and if not now, what security that I shall not 
then? It should be now or not at all." 

Far away in Wales, amid a beautiful and 
charming retreat, lived Marmaduke Gwynne, 
Esq_., a gentleman of family and fortune, who 
had been greatly benefited under the ministry 



104 THE POET PREACHER. 

of the celebrated Howell Harris. He was " a 
man of fine spirit, deeply pious, kind to his 
tenantry, beneficent to the poor, and exemplary 
in all the relations of life." 

His establishment was large and princely. 
His w T ife was one of six heiresses, each of whom 
had a fortune of $150,000, and each was mar- 
ried into a family of rank. She w T as a lady of 
large understanding and generous impulses, yet 
of a proud heart. Greatly averse, at first, to 
Mr. Harris and the religious influence he ex- 
. erted upon her husband, she subsequently laid 
aside her prejudices, was induced to read and 
hear for herself, and became a friend and par- 
taker of spiritual Christianity. 

Nine sons and daughters, twenty servants, a 
chaplain, and nurse constituted the establish- 
ment of the Gwynnes. The Church service, 
both for the morning and evening, was daily 
read. More or less guests, of great respectability, 
were almost always present ; and altogether it 
w r as one of those magnificent and lovely homes 
for which England is so much distinguished. 



THE G WYNNES. 



105 



Sarah Gwynne was one of the daughters of 
this bright home. She was beautiful in person, 
and of genial temper and peaceful manners ; 
moreover she possessed deep and genuine piety, 
and had renounced the world f with its gayeties 
and pleasures, for the sake of Christ and 
salvation. 

The ministry of Harris had been of special 
benefit to Sarah, as also that of the Wesleys, who, 
in their extensive travels, had been received 
at her father's mansion as the angels of God. 

It was delightful to this young lady to accom- 
pany, with her father, these evangelists in their 
preaching excursions in the adjoining country; 
and both father and daughter had made a long 
visit to the Wesleys, at the Foundry, in London, 
and had witnessed the vast congregation, and 
been delighted with the spirituality and earnest- 
ness of the worship there, and with the evident 
reality and greatness of the work of God of 
which the two devoted brothers had been the 
chief instrumentality. 

It is needless to add that this was the beauti- 

1 



106 



THE POET PREACHER. 



ful and excellent young lady who had won the 
heart of Charles Wesley. 

Yet nothing had been disclosed to her, or any 
of the family, on the subject. Every successive 
visit had served to strengthen his attachment, 
and his persuasion that, in the event of his mar- 
rying, Sarah would be the most suitable object 
of his choice. 

" When Charles and his brother returned 
from Georgia, they entered into an agreement 
that neither of them would marry, or take any 
direct step toward marriage, without the knowl- 
edge and consent of the other. On his arrival 
in London, in November, 1748, he fulfilled his 
part of the covenant by informing his brother 
that it was his intention to offer himself as 
the future husband of Miss Gwynne. He 
was agreeably surprised to find that his brother 
not only offered no objection, but had actually 
anticipated his wishes in this affair. John had 
entertained the thought of recommending to 
Charles three young ladies of their acquaint- 
ance, any one of whom he deemed suitable for 



THE G WYNNES, 



107 



Charles's wife ; and Miss Gwynne was one of 
the number, so that he decidedly approved the 
choice which Charles had made. They consult- 
ed together concerning every particular, and 
were of one heart and mind in all things." 

Thus encouraged, Charles immediately pro- 
ceeded to Wales, to solicit the heart and hand 
of Miss Gwynne. " It was an understanding 
between him and his brother that a refusal from 
the young lady, or even one of her parents, 
should be regarded as an absolute prohibition, 
and the suit should be forever abandoned. 

"Happily for him, his former attentions to 
Miss Gwynne, and the sterling excellences 
which she had long seen in him, had already 
won her affections. The matter was then dis- 
closed to the mother by Miss Becky Gwynne, 
another of the daughters, who was also in favor 
of the match. 

" Mrs. Gwynne answered, ' I would rather 
give my child to Mr. Wesley than to any man 
in England.' She afterward spoke to him 
with great friendliness, and said that she had 



108 



THE POET PREACHER. 



c no manner of objection but the want of 
fortune.' 

" At the same time Mr. Gwynne gave his 
free and unhesitating consent, and left all the 
arrangements to his wife, who was well qualified 
for the task by her natural shrewdness and 
business habits." 

Delighted with his success, the happy lover 
took a friendly leave of the Gwynnes, and re- 
turned to London to receive the congratulations 
of his brother for his prosperous journey. 



MARRIAGE. 

Having, by the kind assistance of his brother 
John, secured the required annuity of one hun- 
dred pounds, Charles Wesley set out with a 
light and glad heart for "Wales. His brother 
and another friend accompanied him. 

"When the party arrived at Garth, they 
found Mr. Howell Gwynne, the eldest brother 
of Sarah, visiting the family, and vehemently 



MARRIAGE. 



109 



opposed to the union of his sister with a Me- 
thodist clergyman. The mother expostulated 
with him, and Miss Becky told him point blank 
that he ought to consider the offer of his sister's 
suitor an honor done to himself as one of 
the family." 

It is added, however, that this brother was 
soon divested of his hostility, and became as af- 
fable and friendly as the rest of the family. 

On this visit the necessary preliminaries were 
definitely settled, and it was agreed that the mar- 
riage should be solemnized within two months. 

"During this interval Mr. Charles Wesley 
applied himself to his ministerial labor with un- 
abated diligence and zeal ; and at the same 
time he carried on a correspondence with Miss 
Gwynne, remarkable for its piety. A consider- 
able part of his letters to her were written in 
verse — a vehicle in which his thoughts flowed 
in the most natural manner, especially when 
his feelings were excited. 

"These compositions are exceedingly animated, 
and breathe the most pure and fervent devo- 



110 THE POET PREACHER. 



tion. They call upon the object of his affection, 
to whom he now stood in so tender a relation, 
to unite with him In an unreserved dedication 
of herself to their common Saviour; and ex- 
press many fears lest the love of the creature 
should at all interfere with that supreme love to 
God which is the very end of the command- 
ment, and therefore the soul of religion. Never 
was wedded love more strong and decided than 
that which he cherished, and never, was it more 
thoroughly sanctified by a perfect and constant 
reference to God, who has instituted marriage 
for purposes connected with his own glory." 

The eighth .day of April, 1749, was the mar- 
riage day of Charles Wesley. He, in company 
with his brother, had arrived at the mansion 
of the Gwynnes several days before, and all 
matters had been arranged satisfactorily. John, 
it appears, had entertained some scruples touch- 
ing the possible effect of his brother's marriage 
upon his usefulness as an itinerant preacher, 
and was not without fear that he might thus be 
deprived of Charles's assistance in the great 



MAREIAGE. 



Ill 



revival of religion that was now spreading itself 
over the land. 

His doubts and scruples were, however, re- 
moved, and in his Journal, under the above date, 
we notice the characteristic entry following : 

" I married my brother and Sarah Gwynne. 
It was a solemn day, such as became the dignity 
of a Christian marriage." 

Charles' own entry is equally characteristic : 

" Saturday, April 8th, 1749. 

" ' Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,— 
The bridal of the earth and sky.' 

" Not a" cloud was to be seen from morning 
till night. I rose at four, spent three hours and 
a half in prayer, or singing, with my brother, 
with. Sally, and with Beck. At eight I led my 
Sally to church. Her father, sisters, Lady 
Rudd, Grace Bowen, Betty Williams, and, I 
think, Billy Tucker and Mr. James, were all the 
persons present. Mr. Gwynne gave her to me 
under God. My brother joined our hands. It 
was a most solemn season of love ! I never had 
more of the Divine presence at the sacrament. 



112 THE POET PREACHER. 



My brother gave out a hymn. He then prayed 
over us in strong faith. We walked back to the 
house and joined again in prayer. Prayer and 
thanksgiving was our whole employment. We 
were cheerful without mirth — serious without 
sadness. A stranger that intermeddleth not 
with our joy, said it looked more like a funeral 
than a wedding. My brother seemed the hap- 
piest person among us." 

The account adds that the happy bridegroom 
remained about two weeks with the Gwynnes 
after his marriage, preaching every morning 
and evening, either in the mansion of his father- 
in-law or in the neighboring towns and villages. 
He then resumed his itinerant ministry. Under 
date of April 29, three weeks after his marriage, 
he writes of severe illness having been caused 
by an extreme eagerness to prosecute his minis- 
try. "I was," he says, "too eager for the work, 
and therefore believe God checked me by that 
short sickness." 



THE EAKTHQUAKE. 113 



THE EARTHQUAKE. 

Charles Wesley was eminently fortunate and 
happy in his marriage, and bright and blissful 
days now shone over him. He seems to have 
craved nothing save the glory of God in the 
salvation of men. 

Soon after his marriage he rented a small 
house in Bristol and commenced housekeeping. 
It seems to have been such an abode as suited 
" a stranger and a pilgrim upon earth." " I saw 
my house," he writes, " and consecrated it by 
prayer and thanksgiving. ... At six our first 
guests passed a useful hour with us. I preached 
on the first words I met, Rom. xii, 1. The 
power and blessing of God were with us. At 
half past nine I slept comfortably in my own 
house, yet not my own." 

Meanwhile his Journal of these days speaks 
of tears, amid his retired walks, in view of the 
Divine goodness. He tells of being greatly 
blessed in his private devotions. " In a word," 
he says, " whatsoever I do prospers," 



114 



THE POET PREACHER. 



Yet while lie was signally blessed in his min- 
istry, he seems to have been, at times, subject 
to strong mental depression. " To this, indeed, 
he was constitutionally prone, and from this 
period to the end of his life he was more or less 
affected by it. "When he was daily employed 
in preaching and in traveling from place to 
place, he was carried above all feelings of de- 
spondency, and lived in a state of high spiritual 
enjoyment. But w T hen he sat down in domestic 
quiet, those feelings often returned in unabated 
power. 

On the eighth of February, 1750, the Wes- 
leys both speak of an earthquake in London. 
Just one month afterward another shock was 
felt, far more violent than the first. Charles 
was just naming his text for preaching at the 
Foundry, when the building shook so violently 
that every one supposed it would fall upon 
their heads. A great tumult ensued, when the 
preacher cried out : " Therefore will not we 
fear though the earth be removed, and the hills 
be carried into the midst of the sea ; for the 



THE EARTHQUAKE. 



115 



Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is 
our refuge." He adds: "The Lord filled my 
heart with faith, and my mouth with words, 
shaking their souls as well as their bodies." 

This earthquake appears to have been felt 
specially in London and Westminster. It was 
a strong and jarring motion, attended with a 
rumbling noise, like that of distant thunder. 
Many houses were much shaken, and some 
chimneys thrown down, but without any further 
hurt. The alarm which it occasioned, as might 
be supposed, was deep and general, many ap- 
prehending a return of the calamity in a more 
destructive form." 

Touching the same event Charles Wesley 
writes thus to his wife : 

"My dearest, dearest Friend — Grace and 
peace be multiplied upon you and yours, who 
are mine also. 

"One letter a week does not half satisfy me 
under your absence. I count the days since we 
parted, and those still between us and our next 
meeting. Yet I dare not promise myself the 



116 



THE POET PREACHEK. 



certain blessing, so many are the evils and acci- 
dents of life. Accidents I should not call them ; 
for God ordereth all things in heaven and 
earth. 

" Who knows His will concerning this wicked 
city ? or how near we may be to the fate of 
Lima or Portugal ? 

" Blessed be God, many consider this day of 
danger and adversity. The Bishop of London 
has published a seasonable, solemn warning. 
Our churches are crowded as at the beginning." 

It was at this time that Charles preached the 
discourse entitled, " Cause and Cure of Earth- 
quakes," published in the first volume of the 
American edition of Wesley's Sermons. 

He also composed several hymns under the 
title of " Hymns occasioned by the Earthquake, 
March 8th, 1750." These breathe a spirit simi- 
lar to that of the sermon, describing in strong 
and glowing terms the power and sovereignty of 
God, his merciful and righteous government 
over men, national and personal sins, the di- 
vine forbearance and long-suffering, the uncer- 



THE EARTHQUAKE. 



117 



tainty of life, and of all earthly possessions, and 
the durable nature of the joys which are con- 
nected with Christian godliness, both in time 
and eternity." 

In opposition to a letter that had been pub- 
lished concerning the earthquake, referring the 
event to second causes merely, and ignoring 
any agency of God in the matter, Charles 
Wesley thus sings : 

"From whence these dire portents around, 
That strike us with unwonted fear ? 

Why do these earthquakes rock the ground, 
And threaten our destruction near ? 

Ye prophets smooth the cause explain, 

And lull us to repose again. 

" Or water swelling for a vent, 

Or air impatient to get free, 
Or fire within earth's entrails pent," 

Yet all are order' d, Lord, by thee; 
The elements obey thy nod, 
And nature vindicates her God. 

" The pillars of the earth are thine, 
And thou hast set the world thereon ; 

They at thy threat'ning look incline, 
The center trembles at thy frown ; 

The everlasting mountains bow, 

And God is in the earthquake now. 



118 



THE POET PREACHEK. 



" Now, Lord, to shake a guilty land 
Thou dost in indignation rise ; 

We see, we see thy lifted hand, 
Made bare a nation to chastise, 

When neither plagues nor mercies move 

To fear thy wrath, or court thy love. 

" Therefore the earth beneath us reels, 
And staggers like our drunken men ; 

The earth the mournful cause reveals, 
And groans our burden to sustain ; 

Ordain' d our evils to deplore, 

And fall with us to rise no more." 



CORRESPONDENCE. 

Charles Wesley's itinerant labors became, 
after his marriage, more circumscribed than 
formerly. At length his ministry was confined 
mostly to the important points of London and 
Bristol. 

It was at the latter city that he had taken up 
his residence, and this involved his absence 
from his family so much of the time as he was 
occupied in London. 

During his separation from his wife, his 
letters to her were very frequent, and were 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



119 



strongly marked by that deep and tender affec- 
tion which ever characterized him as a hus- 
band. They also indicate his zeal and faithful- 
ness as an embassador of the Lord Jesus. 

The following brief extracts are culled from 
the pages of this correspondence : 

" Tour illness would quite overwhelm me 
were I not assured that it should work together 
for your good, and enhance your happiness 
through eternity. How does this assurance 
change the nature of things ! 

' Sorrow is joy, and pain is ease 5 
If thou, my God, art here/ 

The slightest suffering received from Him is 
an inestimable blessing, another jewel added to 
your crown. Go, then, my faithful partner, 
doing and suffering His blessed will, till out of 
great tribulation we both enter his kingdom, 
and his joy, and his glory everlasting." 

" May the choicest blessings of God go along 
with these lines, and meet you well at Ludlow ! 
On Friday I trust he w T ill grant me my heart's 



120 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



desire, even the sight of one I love next to 
himself." 

" My strength is as my day. George White- 
field has taken off great part of my labor. I 
let him preach yesterday at the chapel, reserv- 
ing myself for the watch-night. In considera- 
tion whereof we had service this morning an 
hour later. These things I mention in proof of 
my great carefulness, and in hope you will 
follow a good example." 

" My dearest partner, abide under the shadow 
of the Almighty. Let us trust him for each 
other. He never faileth them that seek him ; 
and whoso putteth his trust in the Lord, mercy 
embraceth him on every side." 

" Mr. Fletcher read prayers again in the after- 
noon. I testified, 'If the Son shall make you 
free, ye shall be free indeed. 5 Our chapel was 
crowded as on Fast-day. Lady Huntingdon, 
Lady Gertrude, Mrs. Cartaret, and a multitude 
of strangers attended. I continued my discourse 
for a whole hour, the Lord being my strength, 
and giving me utterance." 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



121 



"I passed two useful hours at Miss Bosan- 
quet's, [afterward Mrs. Fletcher.] Eight or- 
phans she has taken to train up for God." 

" Can I threaten my bosom friend with any 
evil ? No ; but I sometimes mind her of that 
blessed day when we shall put off these taber- 
nacles. But I do not think we shall be long 
divided. Yet if it gives you pain, I shall en- 
deavor to forbear." 

" Yours of August 13th has just now brought 
me the mournful news of your increasing 
illness. Yet would I say, 'It is the Lord; 
let him do what seemeth him good V Still my 
hope of you is steadfast, that hereby you shall 
be partaker of his holiness, who, in kindest love, 
chastens you for your good ; and you may be 
bold to say, 'When he hath tried me I shall 
come forth as gold.'" 

" I am come from preaching to a most attent- 
ive multitude. This place seems quite subdued 
to our Lord. Their hearts are all bowed before 
him. He gives me uncommon strength. A 

very great door is opened. The poor people 

8 



122 



THE POET PKEACHER. 



have got in their harvest, and are now at leisure 
to be gathered in themselves. The heavens 
smile upon us, and the weather seems made on 
purpose for preaching," 

" My bodily strength increases the more I use 
it for the Lord. Every day brings its blessings, 
both to me and to those that hear me. It is 
pleasant traveling with such an errand. Noth- 
ing but the company of my true yokefellow 
could make it pleasanter. The next time you 
hinder me in my work will be the first time. . . . 
Let us join with greater earnestness than ever 
to seek the kingdom of God together." 

" Who is your chaplain ? When none is near, 
you should read prayers yourself, as my mother 
and many besides have done. Be much in 
private prayer. What the Lord will do with 
me I know not ; but am fully persuaded I shall 
not long survive my brother. Farewell." 



SOEEOWS. 



r 

SORKOWS. 

The last sentence of the preceding chapter 
alludes to a desperate illness of Mr. John Wes- 
ley, with which he was seized toward the close 
of 1753. He and all his friends supposed it to 
be a settled consumption, and his case was gen- 
erally thought to be hopeless. " His symptoms 
were those of confirmed consumption, being a 
cough, pain in the breast, fever, with loss of 
strength." 

It may well be supposed that Charles Wesley 
was very deeply affected at the heavy tidings 
concerning his brother. He thus addresses his 
absent wife upon the subject : 

" But first you expect news of my brother. 
He is at Lewisham, considerably better, yet 
still in imminent clanger, being far gone and 
very suddenly in a consumption. I cannot 
acquit my friends of unpardonable negligence, 
since not one of them sent me word of his 
condition, but left me to hear it by chance. I 
hasten to him to-morrow morning. 



124 



THE POET PREACHER. 



" I found him," he writes again, " with my 
sister, and Mrs. Blackwell, and Dewal. I fell 
on his neck and wept. All present were alike 
affected. Last Wednesday he changed for the 
better, while the people were praying for him 
at the Foundry. He has rested well ever since ; 
his cough is abated, and his strength increased. 
Yet it is most probable he will not recover, being 
far gone in a galloping consumption, just as my 
elder brother was at his age. I followed him to 
his chamber with my sister, and prayed with 
strong desire and a good hope of his recovery. 
All last Tuesday they expected his death every 
hour ; he expected the same, and wrote his own 
epitaph : 

" 6 Here lieth the body of John Wesley, a 
brand plucked out of the fire. He died of a 
consumption, in the fifty-first year of his age, 
leaving, after his debts were paid, not ten 
pounds behind him ; praying, God he merciful 
to me an unprofitable servant P He desired 
this inscription, if any, should be put upon his 
tombstone." 



SORROWS. 



125 



A day or two afterward, Charles again writes 
to his wife as follows : 

" I hope you have recovered your fright. My 
brother may live if he hastens to Bristol. 
Prayer is made daily by the Church to God 
for him." 

And these prayers were answered ; and John 
Wesley came up from his consumption, and for 
nearly forty years longer preached most ear- 
nestly, diligently, and successfully the Gospel 
of Christ. 

A few days after his brother John began to 
recover, Charles received the mournful intelli- 
gence that his beloved wife was seized with the 
small-pox. He immediately left London for 
home, and arrived on the afternoon of the 
following day. 

" I found my dearest friend," he writes, " on 
a restless bed of pain, loaded with the worst 
kind of the worst disease She had ex- 
pressed a longing desire to see me just before I 
came, and rejoiced for the consolation. I saw 
her alive, but O how changed ! c The whole 



126 



THE POET PEEACHER. 



head is sick, and the whole heart faint ! From 
the sole of the foot even unto the head, there is 
no soundness in her ; but wounds and putri- 
fying sores.' 

"Yet under her sorest burden she blessed 
God that she had not been inoculated, receiving 
the disease as immediately sent from God. I 
found the door of prayer wide open, and entire- 
ly acquiesced in the divine will; I would not 
have it otherwise. God choose for me and 
mine in time and eternity." 

Twenty-two days did Mrs. Wesley hang be- 
tween life and death under this most terrible 
disease. 

" A part of this anxious time her husband 
was compelled to spend in London, supplying 
the chapels there, his afflicted brother being 
still laid aside from his ministry. He preached 
comfort to others while his own heart was sad, 
daily apprehending that the next post would 
bring the intelligence that his wife was no 
more." 

At length, however, she also arose from her 



SORROWS. 



127 



sick bed ; but arose to grapple, together with 
her husband,, with still deeper sorrows. 

A little son had been born to them, who was 
now about sixteen months old. He was their 
only and darling child, and was born with such 
a strange precocity in respect to song that he 
could sing a tune and beat the time at the age 
of twelve months. He bore the honored name 
of John Wesley. 

As his mother recovered, this sweet child 
sickened with the same frightful disorder. The 
father was away in London, attending to the 
arduous duties of his ministry, and soon receives 
the sad news touching his little lovely boy. He 
reads how that he "has the distemper very 
thick," and that the prospect is dark and uncer- 
tain. The fond mother adds that the doctor " is 
daily here to see our dear Jackey. My heart 
yearns for him ? so that I wish I could bear the 
distemper again instead of him. But he is in 
our great Preserver's hands, who cares for him. 
Farewell!" 

His father never looked upon this little boy 



128 THE POET PREACHER. 

again; when he returned, the beautiful form 
was buried, and the sweet music of his little 
voice had died away, and the itinerant's home 
was desolate. 

Labeled upon a little neat package, and in 
elegant letters traced by the bereaved mothers 
hand, he read : 

" My dear Jackey Wesley's hair, who died of 
small pox on Monday, Jan. 7, 1753-4, aged a 
year, four months, and seventeen days. I shall 
go to him, but he never shall return to me." 

Then Charles Wesley looked upon his wife, 
heretofore so beautiful, and lo ! a dreary change 
had gone over her once lovely features. It is 
said that her most intimate friends did not 
recognize her by looking upon her countenance, 
so deep and fatal was the impress which the 
malady had left of its virulence. She appeared 
no longer young, but there was a seeming of 
many years having been all suddenly added to 
her life. 

Will her husband love her now that her 
beauty is so suddenly and so sadly departed? 



METHODISM AXD THE CHURCH. 



129 



If at first she trembled under the influence of 
such dismal fears, they were soon dismissed to 
the winds, for her true and good husband was 
wont to declare, in the tenderness and strength 
of his affection, that he now admired her more 
than he had ever done before. 



METHODISM AND THE CHUEOH. 

Johjst and Charles "Wesley, up to the time 
of their conversion, (1738,) were Churchmen 
" of the straitest sect," and exceeded even the 
bishops in their high church notions and 
prejudices. 

Also after their conversion they continued 
strongly attached to the Establishment, and 
were reluctant to indulge anything that ap- 
peared like innovations upon the usages of the 
Church with which they were connected. 

Hence these good men were deeply shocked 
when, as the result of the great revival which 
had commenced under their ministry, some of 



130 



THE POET PREACHER. 



their own sons in the Gospel began to preach, 
and they resolved at once to silence them. 

Thus when the news of Thomas Maxfield's 
preaching at the Foundry reached John Wesley, 
he was much offended, and hastened back to 
London to arrest the evil. His mother, then 
residing at the Foundry, cautioned him to be- 
ware. " John," said she, " you know what my 
sentiments have been. Tou cannot suspect me 
of favoring readily anything of this kind ; but 
take care what you do with respect to that 
young man, for he is as surely called of God to 
preach as you are. Examine what have been the 
fruits of his preaching, and hear for yourself." 

John accordingly heard Maxfield preach, and 
at once yielded his approbation ; and when, after 
several years, he requested the Bishop of Deny 
to ordain Maxfield, the good bishop complied, 
and on receiving him for ordination, addressed 
him, saying: "Sir, I ordain you to assist that 
good man, John Wesley, that he may not w T ork 
himself to death." 

The case of Maxfield was but a specimen. 



METHODISM AND THE CHURCH. 131 



Many good men arose, the fruits of the great 
awakening, men of devout spirit, and whose 
ministrations were sanctioned by the divine 
blessing, and the conversion and salvation of 
multitudes. 

" Hence the brothers were not only reconciled 
to this innovation, but defended it, and rejoiced 
in it as a means which Christ himself had pro- 
vided for extending his kingdom in the w T orld ; 
and they were the more satisfied because the 
preachers and their converts attended the relig- 
ious services of the Established Church. For 
a time it was not difficult to preserve this state 
of things, because the societies and preachers 
were few in number, and were continually 
under the eye of the brothers, to whose judg- 
ment and authority every one paid the most 
profound deference." 

It is added, however, that serious difficulties 
at length arose, and the question of separation 
from the Established Church, and of the admin- 
istration of the sacrament by the preachers, 
came to be seriously agitated. 



132 



THE POET PREACHER. 



John and diaries Wesley were united 
against any separation of the Methodists from 
the Church of England. 

Many of their preachers, on the other hand, 
favored a separate organization, and the admin- 
istration of the ordinances among themselves, 
independently of the Church ministers. 

It cannot be denied that they had reasons of 
no small weight for desiring such a change. 
These reasons may be generally summed up 
as follows : 

While in London and Bristol, the two princi- 
pal points of Methodism, the Lord's Supper was 
regularly administered by clergymen, in most 
other places both the preachers and the socie- 
ties were expected to attend this ordinance in 
their several parish churches. 

In many instances the clergy who officia- 
ted in the parish churches were destitute of 
piety; and hence doubts arose whether such 
men, though ordained, were true ministers 
of Christ. 

John Wesley, at Epworth 3 the parish of his 



METHODISM AND THE CHURCH. 133 



own father, was repelled from the Lord's table, 
and assaulted before the whole congregation by 
the clergyman, who was notoriously drunk at 
the time. 

The doctrine taught in the churches was 
deemed not only defective but positively 
erroneous, especially where justification by 
faith, and the work of the Spirit, were peremp- 
torily denied and opposed. 

Several of the clergy, as has been noticed in 
the preceding pages, were directly concerned 
in instigating riotous proceedings against the 
Methodists, whereby their property was de- 
stroyed, and their lives endangered. And it 
was urged that if it were the duty of the suf- 
ferers to forgive these injuries, it was too much 
to expect that they would contentedly receive 
the memorials _of the Saviour's death at the 
hands of such men. It was urged that " if John 
Nelson could profitably receive the holy com- 
munion from the minister who, by bearing false 
witness against him, had succeeded in tearing 
him away from his family and sending him 



134 THE POET PREACHER. 



into the army, every one had not John's meek- 
ness and strength of mind." 

Not a few of the clergy absolutely refused to 
administer the Lord's Supper to Methodists. 
" When these people approached the table of 
the Lord, they were singled out among the 
communicants, and denied the sacred emblems 
of their Redeemer's body and blood." 

Thus, in many instances, the Methodists 
"were compelled either to receive the Lord's 
Supper at the hands of their own preachers, or 
in the dissenting chapel, or to violate the com- 
mand of the Lord, who has charged all his dis- 
ciples to c eat of this bread, and drink of this 
cup.' " 

These, and the like considerations, failed not 
to excite much uneasiness among the preachers 
and societies, and there were much agitation 
and searchings of heart in various directions. 

Among the preachers disaffected toward the 
Establishment were those who were among the 
most gifted and pious of the brethren. 

There was Joseph Cownley, whom John "Wes- 



METHODISM AND THE CHUKCH. 135 



ley pronounced one of the best preachers in 
England. 

There were the Perronets, sons of the vener- 
able Vicar of Shoreham, both of them men of 
education and talent, as well as of unquestion- 
able piety. 

And there was Thomas Walsh^ a most re- 
markable man, an Irishman, and educated for 
the Romish priesthood ; to whom John Wesley 
bears the following testimony : 

"I knew a young man, about twenty years 
ago, who was so thoroughly acquainted with 
the Bible that if he was questioned concerning 
any Hebrew word in the Old, or any Greek 
word in the New Testament, he would tell, 
after a little pause, not only how often the one 
or the other occurred in the Bible, but what it 
meant in every place. Such a master of bibli- 
cal knowledge I never saw before, and never 
expect to see again." 

All the above-named preachers, as well as 
some others, generally " absented themselves 
from the service of the Established Church, and 



136 THE POET PREACHER. 



they occasionally administered the Lord's Sup- 
per to the people who were like-minded with 
themselves, and also to one another." 



PAINFUL SOLICITUDE. 

Charles Wesley was a zealous Churchman, 
and the growing tendency of the Methodist 
preachers against the Establishment, as noticed 
in the preceding chapter, greatly distressed and 
troubled him. He is at first jealous of his 
brother, having fears that he secretly encour- 
aged the irregular proceedings, though he after- 
ward confesses his suspicions to be unfounded. 

His earnestness and spirit in the matter 
under consideration may be best discerned in a 
few extracts from his correspondence about 
this time. 

To Eev. Mr. Sellon he writes that his brother 
believes a separation quite lawful, though not 
expedient ; that the preachers are indefatigable 
in urging John to go so far that he may not be 



PAINFUL SOLICITUDE. 



137 



able to retreat; that Mr. Sellon must be at the 
ensuing Conference if alive ; and that the sound 
preachers must be qualified for ordination. 

Again he writes : " What a pity such spirits 
should have any influence over my brother ! 
They [certain preachers] are continually urging 
him to a separation : that is, to pull down all he 
has built, to put a sword in our enemies' hands 
to destroy the work, scatter the flock, disgrace 
himself, and go out like the snuff of a candle. . . 

" Charles Perronet, you know, has taken upon 
him to administer the sacrament for a month 
together to the preachers and twice to some of 
the people. Walsh and three others have fol- 
lowed his vile example. The consequence you 
see with open eyes. O that my brother did 
so too !" 

Again : " There is no danger of my counte- 
nancing them, but rather of my opposing them 
too fiercely. It is a pity a good cause should 
suffer by a w T arm advocate. If God gives me 
meekness, I shall, at the Conference, speak and 

spare not We must know the heart of 

9 



138 



THE POET PREACHEK. 



every preacher, and give them their choice of 
the Church or the meeting. The wound can no 
longer be healed slightly; those who are disposed 
to separate had best do it while we are yet alive." 

" These letters," observes Mr. Jackson, u are 
particularly valuable, not only as exhibiting the 
state of feeling among the Methodist preachers 
in those times, but for the light which they shed 
upon Charles Wesley's character. With the 
real difficulties of the case he did not attempt to 
grapple. He does not show how the scruples of 
such men as Cownley, Walsh, and the Perronets 
could be removed; nor how the spiritual wants of 
the societies were to be met in those places where 
they were repelled from the table of the Lord. 

"Such was his impetuosity that he could see 
nothing in the scruples of these men but pride ; 
and he was resolved to force all the people to 
an attendance upon their several churches, what- 
ever they might hear there, and though they 
went with the certainty of being driven from 
the holy communion. 

" Such a course was not suited to the occasion. 



PAINFUL SOLICITUDE. 



139 



The persons concerned were not children, either 
in years, understanding, or piety. They were 
rebuked but not convinced, and left to utter 
their complaints in all directions. To treat them 
in this manner was only to restrain the evil for 
a time. It was not removed. 

" John "Wesley pursued a different course. 
He also was anxious to preserve the people and 
preachers in communion with the Established 
Church, but he would not, even for the attain- 
ment of this object, dismiss from the itinerant 
ministry men of whose uprightness, piety, and 
usefulness, he had the fullest evidence. JSTor 
would he deal harshly with men whom he 
thought to be in error, when he saw that con- 
science was concerned." 

With the result of the Conference alluded to 
Charles Wesley appears to have been but very 
partially satisfied. The two brothers expressed 
their minds freely and strongly, and every one 
was invited to declare his views without 
restraint. 

" Mr. Walsh and his friends engaged to desist 



140 THE POET PREACHER. 



from the administration of the Lord's Supper ; 
such was their deference to the judgment of 
their brethren, and especially to the Wesleys, 
who were over them in the Lord. 

" With this general conclusion Mr. John 
Wesley appears to have been satisfied. The 
practical object which he had in view was 
gained, and he would not interfere with the 
workings of private conscience, except in the 
way of reasoning and persuasion. 

"'Not so his more ardent brother. Charles 
perceived that many of the preachers were un- 
convinced, so that future agitations would in all 
probability arise, and obstruct the harmony 
which, for the present, was established. The 
permanent maintenance of strict Churchman- 
ship he saw to be more than questionable. 

" Early, therefore, in the morning of the day 
after the debate was closed in the conference, 
he left Leeds, without even informing his brother 
of his intention, and returned to London." 

John Wesley, in writing his brother Charles, 
endeavors to modify his zeal for outward con- 



PAINFUL SOLICITUDE. 141 



formity, and gives him more practical views 
of their calling. His words are strongly char- 
acteristic : 

" Do not you understand that they all prom- 
ised, by Thomas Walsh, not to administer even 
among themselves ? I think that a huge point 
given up, perhaps more than they could give 
up with a clear conscience. They showed an 
excellent spirit in this very thing. Likewise 
when I (not to say you) spoke once and again 
with sufficient authority, when I reflected on 
their answers I admired their spirit and was 
ashamed of my own. 

"The practical conclusion was, not to sep- 
arate from the Church. Did we not all 
agree in this ? Surely either you or I must 
have been asleep, or we could not differ so 
widely in a matter of fact. Here is Charles 
Perronet raving because his friends have 
given up all; and Charles Wesley, because 
they have given up nothing; and I in the 
midst, staring and w T ondering both at the one 
and the other." 



142 



THE POET PREACHER. 



A few days afterward John again writes to 
Charles as follows : 

" Wherever I have been in England, the so- 
cieties are far more firmly and rationally at- 
tached to the Church than they ever were be- 
fore. I have no fear about this matter. I only 
fear for the preachers' or people's leaving, not 
the Church, but the love of God, and inward 
and outward holiness. To this I press them for- 
ward continually. I dare not, in conscience, 
spend my time and strength on externals. If, 
as my lady says, all outward establishments are 
Babel, so is this Establishment. Let it stand 
for me. I neither set it up nor pull it down. 
But let you and I build up the city of God." 

Thus closed up with Charles "Wesley the 
eventful year of 1755. His anxieties were pro- 
found and incessant, yet he continued the exer- 
cise of his ministry with his wonted energy and 
success, and his ever active mind poured forth 
its feelings in sacred verse. Nothing could sep- 
arate him, either in labor or affection, from 
his brother, notwithstanding their diversity of 



RETIREMENT. 



143 



opinion in respect to the national Church, and 
the certain prospect of their future collision on 
the same subject." 



EETIKEMENT. 

About 1756, when Charles Wesley was forty- 
eight years of age, lie seems to have mostly 
ceased his itinerant career. Gradually his 
journeys became fewer and more limited, until 
his ministrations were chiefly confined to Lon- 
don and Bristol. 

There were, doubtless, several reasons for this 
which operated with Charles. His marriage, 
together with an increasing family, may be 
reckoned as one reason-. At first his wife was 
wont to accompany him extensively in his 
preaching excursions. Yet this soon became 
inconvenient, and regard for the feelings and 
society of his wife, together with the care of his 
children, very materially contributed to detain 
him at home. 



144 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



" Yet the principal cause of his settlement, in 
all probability, was the state of feeling which 
existed in many of the societies and preachers 
with regard to the national Church. He deem- 
ed it a matter of absolute duty that they should 
all remain in strict communion with her. 

" His brother thought separation highly in- 
expedient ; but he could not view it in that 
heinous light in which it appeared to Charles. 
In reference to this subject he was therefore in- 
clined to moderate counsels, and satisfied himself 
with gentleness and persuasion in dealing with 
those who were disaffected toward the Estab- 
lishment, while Charles was prepared for the 
adoption of strong and compulsive measures. 

"Here was, therefore, an obvious difficulty. 
Charles could not visit the principal societies in 
Great Britain and Ireland as a mere friend, or 
as one of the preachers. He must appear as 
possessing a co-ordinate authority with his 
brother ; and as their views differed so very 
materially, they could not, in regulating the 
affairs of the societies, act in perfect concert. 



RETIREMENT. 



145 



" Hence, he appears to have thought it the 
best course for him to retire, and leave the 
people and preachers generally in the hands of 
John, whose talents for government were of the 
highest order. Charles could write hymns with 
a facility and power which no man of his age 
could equal ; and few could surpass him as an 
awakening and effective preacher, but he had 
no aptitude for controlling and harmonizing 
the discordant spirits of men. For the mainte- 
nance of discipline in cases of difficulty, his 
faculties and habits were not at all suited. His 
uprightness, generosity, and the kindness of his 
heart were unquestionable ; but his impetuosity 
created prejudice, and left a soreness in the 
minds which his brother could easily conciliate 
and direct. 

" Though he ceased to travel, his union with 
the Methodists remained to the end of his life ; 
and he rendered most important service to the 
cause of true religion, though in a more limited 
sphere than he had been accustomed to occupy. 
He still cultivated his talent for poetry ; and 



146 



THE POET PREACHER-. 



the numerous publications which he sent forth 
into the world possessed a rich and substantial 
value. 

"The societies in London and Bristol were 
highly favored in retaining the ministrations of 
such a man. But the loss to the other societies 
was great, for he usually carried a blessing 
with him wherever he went. Few men in mod- 
ern times have more fully exemplified the 
peculiar characteristics of the eloquent Apollo s. 
He was, indeed, ' fervent in spirit' and mighty 
in the Scriptures ; and by the resistless energy 
of his preaching he 'mightily convinced' the 
adversaries of Christ, with formalists and tri- 
flers of every description. His power in prayer 
was equally striking." 

It is said, however, that the effect of his 
retiring from the itineracy was far from being 
favorable in its influence upon himself. " His 
mind was naturally inclined to view things in a 
gloomy and discouraging aspect. But amid the 
excitement, the change, and the toil of the itin- 
erant ministry, he had no time to be melan- 



KETIREMENT. 



U1 



choly, however he might be constitutionally 
disposed to indulge that morbid feeling. The 
manifest success which attended his preaching 
filled him with unutterable gratitude, and while 
all his powers were engaged in his work, he 
enjoyed a heaven upon earth. 

When he ceased to travel he was at leisure 
to cherish his painful forebodings. Croakers 
and busybodys tormented him with letters, 
complaining of the ambition of the preachers, 
and of the alienation of the people from the 
Church ; and the pernicious leaven of mysticism 
which he had imbibed at Oxford, and from 
which his mind had never been thoroughly 
purged, regained its ascendency over him, so 
as often to interfere with his spiritual enjoy- 
ments. Yet his piety and integrity of purpose 
w r ere unimpeachable. 

" Often was he in agonies of fear lest the 
Methodists should leave the Church when he 
and his brother were dead ; whila John was as 
happy as an angel, flying through the three 
kingdoms, sounding the trumpet of the world's 



148 



THE POET PEEACIIEE. 



jubilee, and joyfully witnessing, every success- 
ive year, the steady advancement of the work 
of God/' 

About this period John published a pamphlet 
entitled, " Reasons against a Separation from 
the Church of England." 

These " Reasons " were twelve in number, 
and were proposed in a spirit the most mild 
and conciliatory. He introduces the discussion 
by saying: "Whether it be lawful or no, it is 
by no means expedient for us to separate from 
the Church of England." 

Charles, in indorsing this pamphlet, assumes 
higher ground, and affixed thereto the post- 
script following: " I think myself bound in 
duty to add my testimony to my brother's. His 
twelve reasons against our ever separating from 
the Church of England are mine also. I sub- 
scribe to them with all my heart. Only with 
regard to the first ; I am quite clear that it is 
neither expedient nor lawful for me to separate, 
and I never had the least inclination or tempta- 
tion so to do. My affection for the Church is 



LETTEES. 



149 



as strong as ever, and I clearly see my calling, 
which is to live and die in her communion. 
This, therefore, I am determined to do, the 
Lord being my helper." 



LETTEES. 

An occurrence very alarming to Charles 
Wesley followed soon. It was that Paul Green- 
wood, John Martin, and Thomas Mitchell, the 
three preachers stationed at Norwich, overcome 
by the importunity of some members of the 
society, had undertaken to administer the sac- 
rament of the Lord's supper. They did this 
without consulting either of the Wesleys. 

Charles immediately addressed a letter to his 
brother, and several of the older preachers, on 
the subject. 

Some extracts from these letters will evince 
sufficiently his apprehensions of the calamitous 
consequences of such a step. 

To his brother John he writes thus ; 



150 



THE POET PREACHER. 



" Dear Brother, — We are come to the Ru- 
bicon. Shall we pass, or shall we not ? In the 
fear of God (which we both have) and in the 
name of Jesus Christ, let us ask, Lord, what 
wouldest thou have us to do ? 

" The case stands thus : three preachers 
whom we thought we could have depended 
upon, have taken upon them to administer the 
sacrament without any ordination, and without 
acquainting us (or even yourself) of it before- 
hand. Why may not all the other preachers 
do the same if each is judge of his own right 
to do it? And every one is left to act as he 
pleases, if we take no notice of them that have 
so despised their brethren. 

" That the rest will soon follow their example 
I believe; because, 1. They think they may do 
it with impunity. 2. Because a large majority 
imagine they have a right, as preachers, to 
administer the sacraments. So long ago as the 
conference at Leeds, I took down their names. 
3. Because they have betrayed an impa- 
tience to separate. The preachers in Cornwall, 



LETTERS. 



151 



and others, wondered it had not been mention- 
ed at our last conference 

" Upon the whole, I am fully persuaded 
almost all our preachers are corrupted already. 
More and more will give the sacrament and set 
up for themselves, even before we die ; and all, 
except the few that get orders, will turn Dis- 
senters before or after our deaths. 

"Ton must wink very hard not to see all 
this. Tou have connived at it too long. But 
I now call upon you to consider with me what 
is to be done, first, to prevent a separation ; 
secondly, to save the few un corrupted preach- 
ers ; thirdly, to make the best of those that are 
corrupted." 

To Mr. Nicholas Gilbert Charles writes as 
follows : 

" Tou have heard of Paul Greenwood, John 
Murlin, and Thomas Mitchell's presuming to give 
the sacrament at Norwich. I am the more 
afflicted thereat because I had as great a love 
for, and confidence in them, as in any of our sons 



152 



THE POET PEEACHER. 



in the Gospel. They never acquainted their fel- 
low-laborers, no, not even my brother, of their 
design. They did it without any ordination, 
either by bishops or elders, upon the sole author- 
ity of a sixpenny license ; nay, all had not that. 
Do you think they acted right ? If the other 
preachers follow their example, not only separa- 
tion, but general confusion must follow. 

" I shall tell you my mind plainly, because I 
love you. My soul abhors the thought of 
separating from the Church of England. You 
and all the preachers know, if my brother 
should ever leave it, I should leave him, or, 
rather, he me. While ye have any grace 
remaining ye can never desire to part us whom 
God hath joined. You would rather waive 
your right, if you had it, (which I absolutely 
deny,) of ordaining yourselves priests, than 
occasion so great an evil. 

"Indeed, you must become at last either 
Church ministers or Dissenters. Such as addict 
themselves thereto, God will make a way for 
their regular ordination in the Church. With 



LETTERS. 



153 



these I desire to live and die. If you are of 
the number I look upon you as my brother, 
my son, and owe you all I can do for you as to 
soul, body, and estate. I never proposed a 
friendship and proved false to my profession. 
I never (that I know) forgot a kindness done 
me. Your fidelity to the Church of England, 
although your duty, I shall accept as the great- 
est kindness you can possibly show me, beyond 
any personal benefit whatsoever. 

" Now consider, and speak your mind. Will 
you take me for your father, brother, friend ? or 
will you not?" 

He writes as follows to John Nelson : 

My dear Brother, — I think you are no 
weathercock. What think you, then, of licens- 
ing yourself as a Protestant Dissenter, and 
baptizing and administering the Lord's supper, 
and all the while calling yourself a Church of 
England man ? Is this honest ? consistent ? 
just? Yet this is the practice of several of our 

sons in the Gospel, even of some whom I most 

10 



154 



THE POET PREACHER. 



loved and most depended upon. Who would 
have thought that Paul Greenwood could be 
carried away by such dissimulation ? He and 
John Murlin, and Thomas Mitchell, and now, I 
suppose, Isaac Brown, give the sacrament at 
Norwich. My brother suffers them. "Will not 
all the rest follow their example? And will 
not separation, yea, and general separation, 
ensue ? And must not the work of God, so far 
as we are concerned, be thereby destroyed? 

" John, I love thee from my heart ; yet 
rather than see thee a Dissenting minister, I 
wish to see thee smiling in thy coffin. 

" What can be done to save our preachers ? 
Let all things be done in love, and meekness, 
and the spirit of prayer." 

To the Rev. Mr. Grimshaw, a clergyman and 
a Methodist, he thus writes : 

" I am convinced things are come to a 
crisis. We must now resolve either to separate 
from the Church, or to continue in it the rest of 
our days. If pride and the enemy did not 



LETTEES. 



155 



precipitate them, our preachers would infalli- 
bly find the door into the outward ministry 
opened to them soon. Such as addict them- 
selves to the service of the Dissenters, we 
should let depart in peace. Such as dare trust 
in God, and venture themselves in the same 
bottom with us, we should cherish them as 
sons, and do our utmost for them as to soul, 
body, and estate. 

" But this I insist upon, every preacher must 
know his own mind and his brethren's ; must 
be able to answer, What will become of me 
after our fathers are gone ? Must not I be- 
come either a Dissenting or Church minister ? 
Which would I choose ? 

" To have them and things as they are, is to 
betray our charge, to undermine the Church, 
and, as far as in us lies, to destroy the work of 
God. 

" I have read the ' Reasons ' to the society 
here, and their hearts are as the heart of one 
man. Will you not join hand and heart with us 
in confirming the souls of the disciples ? I 



156 



THE POET PKEACHER. 



anticipate your answer ; for I know you pray 
for the peace of Jerusalem, and you prosper 
because you love her." 

These letters are sufficient. They show where 
stood the good and zealous Charles Wesley. 
He seems to have forgotten how far he had 
himself dissented from the rules of the Church 
of England, and that he and his brother, with 
all their attachment to the Church, and resolu- 
tion never to leave it, were as positive innova- 
tors upon its customs as any of the preachers 
whom they superintended. His shocking decla- 
ration to John Nelson, that he would rather see 
him in his coffin than a Dissenting minister, 
bespeaks the blinded bigot a hundred fold more 
than it does the enlightened evangelist. 

John Wesley had a loftier and purer vision. 
He loved the Church, but he loved the conver- 
sion of multitudes of souls better ; and hence 
his beautiful sentiment addressed to Charles: 
" Church or no Church, let you and me build 
up the city of God !" 



LETTERS. 



157 



Happily for the cause of evangelism, John 
Wesley was in his full strength in this great 
crisis, and was enabled to keep a single eye. 
" The fact is," says Mr. Jackson, " Mr. Charles 
Wesley was a poet and a preacher ; but he had 
not, as he himself confessed, the practical wis- 
dom which was requisite to superintend and 
conduct an extensive work of God like that 
with which he was connected. 

" Happily for the Methodists and the world, 
the preachers had entire confidence in the 
judgment of his brother, who kept them steadily 
engaged in the work of saving souls. In the 
exercise of a noble faith, they persevered in 
their original calling. They sought not the 
clerical office for a morsel of bread, and God in 
his providence took care of their temporal 
interests." 



158 



THE POET PPwEACHEE. 



LETTERS— CONTINUED. 

At this point of time, 1765, we view John 
Wesley at the age of sixty-two, and Charles at 
fifty-seven. 

The health of Charles is delicate, and his 
strength is decaying, and he has a solemn im- 
pression that his sun of life is rapidly hastening 
to its setting. 

John seems to have thought that Charles had 
become too much domesticated, and did not 
sufficiently exert his remaining strength in the 
great work of God. He accordingly sits down 
and addresses to Charles the following charac- 
teristic letters : 

"Dear Brother, — We must, we must, you 
and I at least, be all devoted to God. Then 
wives, and sons, and daughters, and everything 
else, will be real invaluable blessings. £ Come, 
bestir yourself, and lay aside delay. 5 Let us 
this day use all the power we have ! If we 



LETTERS. 



159 



have enough, well ; if not, let us this day 
expect a fresh supply. 

" How long shall we drag on thus heavily, 
though God hath called us to be chief conduct- 
ors of such a w-ork ? Alas ! what conductors ! 
If I am, in some sense, the head and you the 
heart of the work, may it not be said, 6 the 
whole head is sick, and the whole heart is 
faint? 5 

" Come, in the name of God, let us arise and 
shake ourselves from the dust! Let us strength- 
en each other's hands in God, and that without 
delay. Have series sexagenarii [old men of 
sixty years] any time to lose? Let you and 
me, and our house, serve the Lord in good 
earnest. May his peace rest on you and yours ! 
Adieu," 

After a few months he addresses Charles 
again : 

" I think you and I have abundantly too 
little intercourse with each other. Are we not 
old acquaintance ? Have we not known each 



160 



THE POET PREACHER. 



other for half a century ? And are we not 
jointly engaged in such a work as probably no 
two other men upon earth are ? 

" Why, then, do we keep at such a distance? 
It is a mere device of Satan. But surely we 
ought not, at this time of day, to be ignorant of 
his devices. Let us therefore make a full use 
of the little time that remains. We, at least, 
should think aloud, and use to the uttermost the 
light and grace on each bestowed. We should 
help each other 

; Of little life the best to make, 
And manage wisely the last stake.' 

O insist everywhere on full redemption, receiv- 
able now by faith alone ! consequently to be 
looked for now. You are made, as it were, for 
this very thing. Just here you are in your 
element. In connection I beat you, but in 
strong, short, pointed sentences, you beat me. 
Go on in your own w^ay, what God has pecu- 
liarly called you to. Press the instantaneous 
blessings ; then I shall have more time for my 
peculiar calling, enforcing the gradual work." 



LETTERS. 



161 



Charles is laboring at London, whence he 
thus writes to his wife at Bristol : 

" My work, I very well know, keeps me 
alive more than it wears me out. That 
and my life will probably end together. It 
is superfluous, yet I cannot help caution- 
ing you about Charles, (and Sally too,) to 
take care he contracts no acquaintance with 
other boys. Children are corrupters of each 
other. 

" My brother, I presume, will look in upon 
you on Wednesday se'nnight, in his flight to 
Land's End. He is an astonishing youth ! and 
may be saluted like the Eastern monarchs : ' O 
king, live forever V 

"Last night my brother came. This morn- 
ing we spent two blessed hours with George 
Whitefield. The threefold cord, we trust, will 
never more be broken. On Tuesday next my 
brother is to preach in Lady Huntingdon's 
chapel at Bath. That and all her chapels (not 
to say, as I might, herself also) are now put into 
the hands of us three," 



162 THE POET PREACHER. 



Not long after the above letters were written, 
Charles Wesley receives from his wife the 
sad news of the death of an infant boy. He 
returns the following answer to his sorrowing 
partner : 

" ' Father, not as I will, but as thou wilt 
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.' 

" Let my dearest companion in trouble offer 
up this prayer with as much of her heart as she 
can ; and God, who knoweth whereof we are 
made, and considereth that we are but dust, 
will, for Christ's sake, accept our weakest, most 
imperfect desires of resignation. I know the 
surest way to preserve our children is to trust 
them with him, who loves them infinitely better 
than Ave can do. 

" I received your trying news at nine this 
morning ; walked directly with my sympathiz- 
ing friend F. to take a place. All full but the 
Bath coach to-morrow morning. I shall come 
thereby somewhat later to my beloved Sally, 
and Charley, and his sister. But the Lord is 
with you already. The Lord is with you always. 



LETTERS. 



163 



This has been a solemn day. You must not 
deny my love to my sweet boy, if I am enabled 
to resign him for his heavenly Father to dispose 
of. I cannot doubt his wisdom or goodness. 
He will infallibly do what is best, not only for 
his own children, but for us, in time and eternity. 
Be comforted by this assurance.. Many mourn 
with and pray for you and your little ones. 

" I shall tread on the heels of my letter if 
the Lord prosper my journey. He comes with 
me. Let us confidently expect him, the great 
Physician of soul and body. 

" Peace be with you ! May the Lord Jesus 
himself speak it to your heart : ' My peace I 
give unto you 

The above letter is followed soon by another, 
that tells of his intention to remove his family 
to London. " Our preparation," he writes, 
" could not save the first Jackey, because 
God had prepared a better thing for him. 
The means may keep Samuel with us. Let us 
be thankful that he still holds up. If he should 
have the distemper soon, I believe it will only 



104 



THE POET PREACHER. 



lessen his beauty. I long to see him and you ; 
but I fear I must be detained another week in 
town. 

" On Monday Mr. Kemp, and Beck, and I 
go to see a house at Hackney, and another at 
JSTewington, either of which, he thinks, will 
suit us exactly. If Beck and I are of the same 
judgment we shall take it. . . . My brother 
himself is quite pleased with our having a 
house near London; so are all the people, 
which I need not tell you." 



EEMOVAL AKD EFFOBTS. 

It was in the year 1771 that Charles Wesley 
changed his residence from Bristol to London. 

A lady of fortune, who was a friend of Charles 
and his wife, handed over to him the lease 
(which had twenty years to run) of her hand- 
some town residence. The house was richly 
furnished, and completely prepared for occu- 
pancy, and was altogether a most eligible resi- 



REMOVAL AND EFFORTS. 165 

dence, with the exception that it was three 
miles from the Foundry, the residence of John 
Wesley when in London. 

After his settlement in London Charles served 
the congregations and societies there with great 
acceptance and efficiency. He is said to have 
cherished still that spirit of prayer by which 
he had ever been distinguished since he had 
obtained the vital faith in Christ. 

There were seasons when he was specially 
drawn out in prayer for particular friends. 
Thus, on a Sabbath day in the year 1772, re- 
marking the arduous controversy in which Mr. 
Fletcher of Madeley was engaged, Charles, with 
deep feeling, commended that good man to the 
especial care and blessing of God. He after- 
ward mentioned the subject in a letter to 
Mr. Fletcher, from whom he received the fol- 
lowing remarkable answer: "You asked me in 
one of your letters how I found myself the Sun- 
day before. [This was the Sunday alluded to.] 
Your question surprised me so much the more, 
as I had spent some time that day in wonder- 



166 



THE POET PREACHER. 



ing how I was inwardly loosed, and how prayer 
and praise came from a much greater depth 
than usual in my heart, which, glory be to 
God ! hath, in general, remained with me ever 
since, together with greater openings of love, 
and clearer views of Christian simplicity and 
liberty." 

On one occasion, being absent from London 
during several weeks, he addressed the following 
interesting and valuable letter to his daughter, 

who was at school : 

" My dear Sally, — Your friends and ours at 
the Common have laid us under great obliga- 
tions. I wish I could return them by persuad- 
ing her to seek till she finds the pearl, which is 
constant happiness ; and by persuading him to 
give himself entirely to One whose service is 
perfect freedom, and whose favor and love is 
heaven in both worlds. 

" I never thought the bands would suit you ; 
yet many of them possess what you are seeking. 
You also shall bear witness of the power, and 



REMOVAL AKD EFFORTS. 



167 



peace, and blessedness of heart religion. You 
also shall know the Lord, if you follow on to 
know him. Other knowledge is not worth your 
pains. Useful knowledge, as distinguished from 
religious, lies in a narrow compass, and may 
soon be attained if your studies are guarded 
and directed. We must have a conference on 
this subject. We may also read your verses 
together; they want perspicuity, which should 
be the first point ; but they are worth correcting. 

" All your powers and faculties are so many 
talents, of which you are to give an account. 
You improve your talent of understanding 
when you exercise it in acquiring important 
truths. You use your talent of memory aright 
when you store it with things worth remember- 
ing, and enlarge by using and employing it. 
You should therefore be always getting some- 
thing by heart. Begin with the first book of 
Prior's Solomon — The Yanity of Knowledge. 
Let me see how much of it you can repeat 
when we meet. 

" Miss Hill is likely now to have a good for- 



168 



THE POET PREACHEK. 



tune. You need not envy her, if you are a 
good Christian. 'Seek first the kingdom of 
God, and all these things shall be added unto 
you. 5 Charles has a turn to generosity, Sam. to 
parsimony. Yon must balance them both ; or 
you may follow your mother's and my example, 
and keep in the golden mean. 

" There are many useful things which I can 
teach you if I live a little longer. But I dare 
never promise myself another year. . . . Prob- 
ably I have taken my last leave of Bristol. 
Certainly I shall never more be separated eight 
weeks from my family. ... I am nourishing 
myself up for a journey with my philosophical 
brother." 

Charles Wesley was still as much as ever 
troubled about the relation of Methodism and 
the Methodist societies to the Church. He 
deprecated any separation from the Establish- 
ment as one of the greatest calamities. 

John Wesley, on the other hand, was less 
careful in this matter. His vision, as already 



REMOVAL AND EFFORTS. 169 

remarked, was clearer and more extended, and 

his spirit was more joyous and hopeful. He 

still persisted, with undiminished zeal, in his 

career of evangelism, rejoicing with the liveliest 

gratitude in the prosperity of the work of God. 

He saw not, as yet, how the societies could 

be kept together after his death ; but he left 

the whole thing with the Lord, not doubting 

that he would take care of his own cause. 

" Unless the preachers declared themselves to 

be decided Churchmen, Charles eyed them with 

alarm. If they were zealous for God, and 

labored with all their might for the conversion 

of sinners, John loved them, and encouraged 

them in their work. He resolved to do what he 

could to prevent them and the societies from 

leaving the Church ; but their continuance in it 

was with him a subordinate object. His great 

concern was to save souls from sin and hell." 

11 



170 



THE POET PEEACHER. 



THE FAMILY — CHAKLES, JUNIOR 

It is time to notice more particularly the 
family of Charles Wesley. 

We have seen that this marriage was an 
eminently happy one. His wife proved a true 
and excellent helpmate, and performed her 
part with great propriety, and to the full satis- 
faction of her husband. 

Eight children were born to them, of whom 
five died in their infancy. 

John, their first-born, already died of small- 
pox, 1754, aged sixteen months. 

Martha Maria, died 1755, aged one month. 

Susanna, named for her honored grandmoth- 
er, died 1761, aged eleven months. 

Selina, named for the Countess of Hunting- 
don, died 1764, aged five weeks. 

John James, died 1768, aged seven months. 

" When this fifth death among her children 
occurred, Mrs. Wesley was deeply distressed, 
and earnestly besought the Lord, if it were his 




LITTLE CHARLEY AT THE PIANO. 



THE FAMILY CHARLES, JUNIOR. 173 

will, that she might be spared the pain of fol- 
lowing another of them to the grave." Her 
request was granted, and her other children 
lived to a good old age. The remaining chil- 
dren were, Charles, born 1757 ; Sarah, born 
1759; and Samuel, born 1766. 

Charles Wesley, Junior, seems to have been 
a musical prodigy. Among the private papers 
left by his father are the following notices of 
this child : 

" He was two years and three-quarters old 
when I first observed his strong inclination to 
music. He then surprised me by playing a 
tune on the harpsichord readily, and in just 
time. Soon after he played several, whatever 
his mother sung, or whatever he heard in the 
streets. From his birth she used to quiet and 
amuse him with the harpsichord ; but he would 
not suffer her to play with one hand only, 
taking the other and putting it to the keys 
before he could speak. When he played him- 
self, she used to tie him up by his backstring 
to the chair, for fear of his falling. What- 



in 



THE POET PREACHER. 



ever tune it was, he always put a true base 
to it. 

" From the beginning he played without study 
or hesitation, and, as the masters told, perfectly 
well. Mr. Broadrip, organist at Bristol, heard 
him in petticoats, and foretold he would one 
day make a great player. Whenever he was 
called on to play to a stranger, he would ask, 
in a word of his own, ' Is he a musicker V and if 
answered, 'Yes, 5 he played with the greatest 
readiness. He always played with spirit. 
There was something in his manner above a 
child, which struck the hearers, learned and 
unlearned." 

" Mr. Rogers, the oldest organist in Bristol, 
was one of his first friends. He often set him 
on his knee and made him play to him, declar- 
ing he was more delighted in hearing him than 
himself." 

" After hearing him play (at ten years of age) 
he charged him to have nothing to do with any 
great master, 'who will utterly spoil you, and 
destroy anything that is original in you.' " 



THE FAMILY CHARLES, JUNIOR. 175 

The lad was placed under the instruction of 
Mr. Kelway, a most accomplished teacher of 
music. The following are some of Mr. Kel- 
way 's notices of Charles, who was now about 
twelve years of age : 

" I never saw one carry his hand so well. It 
is quite a picture. It is a gift from God. How 
would Handel have shaken his sides if he could 
have heard him !" 

" Tou will be an honor to me. Handel's 
hands did not lie on the instrument better than 
yours do." 

" Were you my own son I could not love you 
better. Go on, and mind none of the musicians 
but Handel. You have a divine gift." 

" One cannot hear him play four bars with- 
out knowing him to be a genius." 

" I will maintain before all the world that 
there is not a master in London that can play 
this sonata as he does. The king would eat up 
this boy. I must carry him some morning to 
St. James." 

" His very soul is harmony. Not one of my 



176 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



scholars could learn that in a year which he 
has learned in ten lessons." 

" I loved music when young, but not so well 
as he does. One would think he had been the 
composer of this. He gives the coloring, the 
nice touches; the finishing strokes are all his 
own. I love him better and better. He has it 
from God. He is a heaven-born child. What 
coloring! What lights and shades! I could 
cry to hear him. 

" He is an old man at the instrument. He 
is not a boy. He is the greatest genius in 
music I have ever met with. 

" They say I cannot communicate my skill ; 
but I dare maintain there is not such another 
player as this boy in England, nor yet in 
France, or Spain, or Italy. 

" If I was without the door, and did not 
know he was dead, I should aver it was Handel 
himself that played." 

Charles enjoyed the advantages of a classical 
education, but appears to have been incapable 
of excelling, in anything but music, in which he 



THE FAMILY CHARLES, JUjNTOR. 177 

seemed all but inspired. " He was affable, 
kind, good humored and easy- — buried in music 
— -vain of his abilities in the science to which 
his knowledge was in a great measure limited. 

"In his manners he had all the ease and ele- 
gance of a courtier ; but it is doubtful whether, 
through the entire course of his life, he was 
able to dress himself without assistance. If left 
to himself, he was almost sure to appear with 
his wig on one side, his waistcoat buttoned 
awry, or the knot of his cravat opposite one of 
his shoulders. 

u His morals were correct, and his respect for 
his parents most tender and reverent ; but in 
early life his mind was not deeply impressed 
with the solemn truths of religion." 

Charles seems to have been a great favorite, 
with the king, George III., who was passionately 
fond of Handel's music. 

" After the king had lost his sight, Mr. 
Charles Wesley was one day with his majesty 
alone, when the venerable monarch said : ' Mr. 
Wesley, is there any body in the room but you 



178 



THE POET PREACHER. 



and me?' 'No, your majesty,' was the reply. 
The king then said: 'It is my judgment' Mr. 
"Wesley, that your uncle, and your father, and 
George Whitefield, and Lady Huntingdon have 
done more to promote true religion in the 
country than all the dignified clergy put to- 
gether, who are so apt to despise their labors.'" 
An important testimony this ; let it be re- 
membered ! 



THE FAMILY — SAMUEL. 

Samuel Wesley was nine years younger than 
his brother Charles. His musical genius, as 
well as that of his older brother, was wonderful. 
He did not, as a performer, excite so much at- 
tention in very early life ; yet he surpassed 
Charles in musical composition. In this latter 
his precocity was extraordinary. 

" The first thing that drew our attention," 
said his father, " was the great delight he took 
in hearing his brother play. Whenever Mr. 



THE FAMILY — SAMUEL. 



179 



Eel way came to teach him, Sam constantly at- 
tended, and accompanied Charles on the chair. 
Undaunted by Mr. Kelway's frown, he went 
on ; and even when his back was to the harpsi- 
chord, he crossed his hands on the chair, as the 
other did on the instrument, without ever miss- 
ing a time." He was between four and five 
years old when he got hold of the Oratorio 
of Samson, and by that alone taught him- 
self to read. Soon after he taught himself to 
write. 

" From this time he sprung up like a mush- 
room, and when turned of five could read per- 
fectly well, and had all the airs, recitatives 
and choruses of Samson and the Messiah, both 
words and notes, by heart. 

"Before he could write he composed much 
music. His custom was to lay the words of an 
Oratorio before him, and sing them all over. 
Thus he set (extempore for the most part) Ruth, 
Gideon, Manasses, or the Death of Abel. . . . I 
have seen him open the Prayer-book, and sing 
the Te Deum, or an anthem from some psalm, 



180 



THE POET PREACHER. 



to his own music, accompanying it with the 
harpsichord. 

" Several companies he entertained for hours 
together with his own music ; as quick as his in- 
vention suggested, his hand executed it. The 
learned were astonished. Sir John Hawkins 
cried out, c Inspiration ! Inspiration!' An old 
musical gentleman hearing him, could not re- 
frain from tears." 

" If he loved anything better than music, it 
was regularity. Nothing could exceed his 
punctuality. ISTo company, no persuasion, 
could keep him up beyond his time. He never 
could be prevailed on to hear any opera or 
concert by night. The moment the clock gave 
warning for eight, away ran Sam, in the midst 
of his most favorite music. Once he rose up 
after the first part of the Messiah, with 6 Come, 
mamma, let us go home, or I sha'nt be in bed by 
eight.' When some talked of carrying him to 
the queen, and, to try him, asked if he was 
willing to go, 6 Yes, with all my heart,' he an- 
swered ; i but I won't stay beyond eight.' 



THE FAMILY SAMUEL. 



181 



" The praises bestowed so lavishly on him 
did not seem to affect, much less to hurt him ; 
and whenever he went into the company of his 
betters, he would much rather have stayed at 
home. Yet when among them he was free and 
easy, so that some remarked he behaved as 
one bred up in a court, yet without a courtier's 
servility." Indeed, this youth seems to have 
been everywhere as much admired for his 
behavior as for his playing. 

Yet his character appears to have differed 
very considerably from that of his brother 
Charles. " He w r as possessed of great intellect- 
ual power and acuteness. His mind was truly 
Wesleyan, quick, shrewd, and penetrating. He 
was mostly educated by his father, especially in 
Latin. His knowledge was extensive ; his conver- 
sation elegant, agreeable, instructive, and varied, 
and he was capable of excelling in any science 
or profession to which he might apply himself. 

" Yet his natural disposition was not so harm- 
less and kindly as that of Charles ; nor did he 
cherish that deep filial affection by which his 



182 



THE POET PREACHEB. 



brother was always distinguished. The father's 
principal concern respecting Charles was, that 
he did not give his heart to God. Samuel, 
even in his youth, showed a waywardness of tem- 
per that cost his father many a pang of sorrow." 

These two brothers, when grown up, estab- 
lished a series of concerts in their father's house, 
which were continued through several years, 
and were attended by many persons of quality. 



THE FAMILY— SAKAH. 

" Miss Sarah Wesley," says Mr. Jackson, 
" was younger than her brother Charles, and a 
few years older than Samuel. 

" She was born in Bristol, as were all the 
other children. For some time she attended 
the school of Miss Temple, in that city; but 
was taught Latin by her father, as was her 
brother Samuel also. 

"Like both her parents and her brothers, she 
was little of stature. She bore a striking re- 



THE FAMILY SARAH. 



183 



semblance to her father in her features, and 
especially in her profile. 

"In mature life she was remarkable for the 
acuteness and elegance of her mind, as well as 
for the accuracy and extent of her information, 
so that she was qualified to move with advant- 
age in the highest literary circles. Miss Hannah 
More, Miss Benger, Miss Hamilton, Miss Por- 
ter, Miss Aikin, Mrs. Barbauld, Dr. Gregory, 
and many other persons of distinction, were her 
personal friends, and none of them had any 
reason to be ashamed of her companionship. 

"Her love and esteem for her father were 
very strong, and his regard for her was tender 
and enduring. He took great pains in the cul- 
tivation of her intellect, and his numerous 
private letters to her, written when he was 
separated from his family, show the affection- 
ate interest which he took in her spiritual im- 
provement. It was the intense desire of his 
heart that she should be a Christian indeed. 

"One day, during her childhood, when she 
was repeating her Latin lesson to him before 



184 



THE POET PREACHER. 



she had sufficiently mastered it, he said, some- 
what impatiently, ' Sarah, you are as stupid as 
an ass.' She said nothing, but lifted up her 
eyes with meekness, surprise, and imploring 
affection. On catching her look, he instantly 
burst into tears, and finished the sentence by 
adding, ' and as patient.' 

Miss Wesley, possessing the true philosophic 
spirit, had considerable influence over the mind 
of her faithful brother Charles. Once when he 
was somewhat dejected, feeling that his talents 
had not been adequately rewarded, he came to 
her, bringing some of his beautiful compositions, 
and requesting that she would tie them up for 
him. 'All my works,' said he, 'are neglected. 
They were performed at Dr. Shepherd's in 
"Windsor, but no one minds them now.' 

"She answered in a sprightly tone, 'What a 
fool you would be to regret such worldly dis- 
appointments ! You may secure a heavenly 
crown, and immortal honor, and have a thous- 
and blessings which were denied to poor Otway, 
Butler, and other bright geniuses. Johnson 



THE FAMILY SAEAH. 



185 



toiled for daily bread till past fifty. Pray think 
of your happier fate !' 

" ' True,' said he, meekly ; and took away his pro- 
ductions with sweet humility. Having recorded 
this anecdote, she adds: fi Lord, sanctify all these 
mundane mortifications to him and to me ! The 
view of another state will prevent all regrets.' " 

We here subjoin a characteristic letter from 
their uncle John to Sarah and her brother Charles, 
on the occasion of their wayward brother Sam- 
uel's having attached himself to the Roman 
Church. He commences by alluding to their 
trouble, because Samuel had changed his religion. 

" Nay," he continues, " he has changed his 
opinion and mode of worship; but that is not 
religion ; it is quite another thing. 

" ' Has he then,' you may ask, 6 sustained no 
loss by the change V Yes, unspeakable loss, 
because his new opinion and mode of worship 
are so unfavorable to religion that they make it, 
if not impossible to one who once knew better, 
yet extremely difficult. 

" What, then, is religion ? It is happiness in 



18G 



THE POET PREACHER. 



God, or in the knowledge and love of God. It 
is faith working by love, producing righteous- 
ness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. In 
other words, it is a heart and life devoted to 
God ; or communion with God the Father and 
the Son, or the mind which was in Christ Jesus, 
enabling us to walk as he walked. 

" ]STow either he has this religion or he has 
not. If he has he will not finally perish, not- 
withstanding the absurd, unscriptural opinions 
he has embraced, and the superstitions and 
idolatrous modes of worship. But these are so 
many shackles which will greatly retard him in 
running the race set before him. . . . Therefore 
you and my dear Sarah have great need to 
weep over him ; but have you not also need to 
weep for yourselves ? For have you given God 
your hearts ? Are you holy in heart ? Have you 
the kingdom of God within you? righteousness, 
and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost ? the only 
true religion under heaven. 

" O cry unto Him that is mighty to save for 
this one thing needful. Earnestly and diligent- 



ASSOCIATES. 



187 



ly use all the means which God hath put plenti- 
fully into your hands ! Otherwise, I should not 
at all wonder if God permit you also to be 
given up to a strong delusion. 

" But whether you w r ere or were not, whether 
you are Protestants or Papists, neither you nor 
he can ever enter into glory unless you are now 
cleansed from all pollution of flesh and spirit, 
and perfect holiness in the fear of God." 



ASSOCIATES. 

From the time that Charles Wesley removed 
to London he seems to have been honored, not- 
withstanding his Methodism, with the friend- 
ship of several distinguished persons. 

" He had free intercourse with Lord Mans- 
field, whom he had befriended in his boyhood 
at Westminster school. He sometimes con- 
sulted his lordship on questions affecting the 
Methodists in their relation to the Established 

Church ; and that eminent lawyer declared his 

12 



188 THE POET PEEACHEK. 



readiness to render any service in his power to 
him and his brother. 

Dr. Boyce, one of the fathers of modern 
Church music, and Mr. Kelway, the musical 
tutor of Queen Charlotte, were frequent visitors 
of the family in Chesterfield-street. 

" Lord Dartmouth cultivated the friendship 
of Mr. Charles Wesley on a religious account ; 
and Dr. Johnson mentions him as a person with 
whose views and habits he was familiar. . . . 

" Among Charles's papers are two notes in 
the hand-writing of the doctor; one addressed 
to the father, and the other to the daughter, 
inviting them to dine with him. The first of 
these is as follows : 

" ' Sir,- — I beg that you, and Mrs. and Miss 
Wesley, will dine with your brother and Mrs. 
Hall, at my house in Bolt Court, Fleet-street, 
to-morrow. That I have not sent sooner, if you 
knew the discordant state of my health, you 
would easily forgive me. I am, sir, your most 
humble servant, Sam. Johnson.' 

" 4 Wednesday.' 5 ' 



ASSOCIATES. 



189 



Writing to Miss Wesley, the doctor says : 

" Madam, — I will have the first day that you 
mention, my dear, on Saturday next; and if 
you can, bring your aunt with you, to your 
most humble servant, 

" ' Sam. Johnson. 5 

" ' Oct. 28, 1783.' 

"Among Mr. Charles Wesley's friends may 
also be ranked the late Mr. Wilberforce, then a 
young statesman just rising into life. 

" Their first interview took place at the house 
of Mrs. Hannah More, and is thus described by 
that pious and philanthropic man : ' I went, I 
think, in 1786, to see her, and when I came into 
the room Charles Wesley rose from the table, 
around which a numerous party sat at tea, and 
coming forward to me, gave me solemnly his 
blessing. I was scarcely ever more affected. 
Such was the effect of his manner and appear- 
ance that it altogether overset me, and I burst 
into tears, unable to restrain myself.' " 

At the same time his early religious asso- 
ciates were soon rapidly disappearing by death. 



190 THE POET PREACHER. 



Thus it was that his tenderest friendships were 
fast dissolving, and a new generation was rising 
up around him. 

Rev. Henry Piers, the pious vicar of Bexley, 
died in 1769. He was Charles Wesley's son in 
the Gospel, shared in the glorious dishonor of 
early Methodism, a timid and gentle spirit, and 
was faithful unto death. 

Under date of August 24, 1782, John Wesley 
thus writes : " My brother and I paid our last 
visit to Lewisham, and spent a few pensive 
hours with the relict of our good friend, Mr. 
Blackwell. We took one more walk around 
the garden and meadow which he took so much 
pains to improve. Upward of forty years this 
has been my place of retirement, when I could 
spare two or three days from London. In that 
time, first Mrs. Sparrow went to rest, then Mrs. 
Dewal, then good Mrs. Blackwell, and now Mr. 
Blackwell himself. Who can tell how soon Ave 
may follow them ?" 

In 1785 died also in great peace Perronet, 
the excellent vicar of Shoreham, always the 



ASSOCIATES. 



191 



fast friend and confidential adviser of the 
Wesleys. 

" When the (Methodist) preachers visited 
Shoreham, Mr. Perronet's house was their 
home ; and in a room which he fitted up under 
his own roof, they regularly ministered the 
word of life. In his spirit and manners he was 
a perfect gentleman and a Christian, and a 
more spotless and upright character has seldom 
adorned any section of the universal Church. 

Within three months after the death of Per- 
ronet, the great and good Fletcher, another un- 
wavering friend of the Wesleys, passed in 
triumph from earth to heaven. Few men have 
ever excelled him in piety, and perhaps no one 
was ever more honored in death. 

" Being indulged with the richest manifesta- 
tions of God's mercy in Christ, he called upon 
all around him to unite in the loudest ascrip- 
tions of praise. Such was the fullness of his 
spiritual joy, that he expressed a desire for a 
gust of praise that should go to the ends of the 
earth. Having the most elevated and im- 



192 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



pressive views of the atonement of Christ, he 
often exclaimed : 

4 Jesus' blood through earth and skies, 
Mercy — free, boundless mercy cries !' 

and added, in the full exercise of appropriating 
faith : 

c Mercy's full power I soon shall prove, 
Loved with an everlasting love !' 

Thus Charles Wesley, now Charles the aged, 
was entering deeply into that mournful expe- 
rience of old age, the loss of early friends. One 
after another they were dropping around him, 
to be seen on earth no more, and he will soon 
follow ! 



THE WESLEY AN ORDINATIONS. 

The flame of Methodism had crossed the 
Atlantic, and spread itself, to a considerable 
extent, in this country, while the Wesleys were 
yet living. 



THE WESLEY AN OKDIjST ATIONS. 193 

At the close of the war of Independence, and 
when the great political separation had taken 
place between England and the American colo- 
nies, there was already a membership of about 
eighteen thousand souls. Several preachers 
had been sent over by Mr. Wesley, and their 
labors had been blessed in the conversion of 
many. 

John Wesley deemed it his duty to provide 
the sacraments as well as the ministry of the 
word for this increasing multitude. Accord- 
ingly, on the morning of September 1, 1784, 
he, with the assistance of one or two clergymen, 
solemnly ordained Dr. Coke as superintendent 
of the American Methodists, with the under- 
standing that the doctor should proceed to 
America, and ordain Francis Asbury an asso- 
ciate superintendent with himself. 

At the same time Mr. Wesley ordained 
Messrs. Whatcoat and Yasey as elders for the 
American work. Also, in the following year, 
he ordained three preachers to minister the 
sacraments in Scotland. 



194 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



" Nothing that Mr. John Wesley ever said 
or did gave his brother half so much offense as 
these ordinations. Charles adhered to the prin- 
ciple of 'apostolical succession, 5 and of the divine 
appointment of three orders of ministers. Yet 
he could bear with patience to hear his brother 
assail these principles in theory, if he only kept 
the Methodists in union with the Established 
Church. "Whereas he imagined that from these 
ordinations separation was inevitable. 

" The Church of England did not, indeed, 
exist either in the United States of America or 
in Scotland ; but the principle of presbyterian 
ordination among the Methodists was recog- 
nized ; and the men who had received such 
ordination from his brother, he saw, could, 
after his brother's death, if not even before, 
ordain their brethren, and thus introduce the 
sacraments into the chapels generally, and draw 
away the societies from their parish churches. 

" He had little confidence in Dr. Coke's dis- 
cretion, and thought that, on his return from 
America, he might, by possibility, ordain the 



THE WESLEY AX ORDINATIONS. 195 0 

whole body of the preachers. The elements of 
separation appeared to him to be now officially 
adopted and at work ; the professions of union 
with the Church, which he and his brother had 
reiterated through life, he thought were vio- 
lated ; their strenuous and persevering efforts to 
resist the spirit of dissent were given up and neu- 
tralized, the work of God irreparably injured, 
and the name of Wesley dishonored forever ! 

" Such were Charles's extreme views on the 
occasion, and he mourned that he had not died 
before the arrival of that day." 

About the same time, alluding to his brother 
John, Charles Wesley writes as follows to a 
brother clergyman : 

" After having continued friends for above 
seventy years, and fellow-laborers for above 
fifty, can anything but death part us? I can 
scarcely yet believe it, that in his eighty-second 
year, my brother, my old, intimate friend and 
companion, should have assumed the episcopal 
character, ordained elders, consecrated a bishop, 
and sent him to ordain our lay-preachers in 



196 THE POET PEEACHEE. 



America ! I was then in Bristol, at his elbow ; 
yet he never gave me the least hint of his in- 
tention. How was he surprised into so rash an 
action ? He certainly persuaded himself that it 
was right. 

" Lord Mansfield told me last year that ordi- 
nation was separation. This my brother does 
not, and will not see, or that he has renounced 
the principles and practices of his whole life ; 
that he has acted contrary to all his declarations, 
protestations, and writings, robbed his friends 
of their boasting, and left an indelible blot on 
his name as long as it shall be remembered. 

" Thus our partnership here is dissolved, but 
not our friendship. I have taken him for better 
for worse, till death do us part; or rather, re- 
unite us in love inseparable. I have lived on 
earth a little too long, who have lived to see 
this evil day. But I shall very soon be taken 
from it, in steadfast faith that the Lord will 
maintain his own cause, and carry on his own 
work, and fulfill his promise to his Church, 6 Lo, 
I am with you alway, even to the end 



THE WESLEYAN OEDUSTATIOKS. 197 

In a postscript to the same letter Charles 
prophesies of the " poor Methodists " in Am- 
erica as follows : 

"After my brother's death, which is now so 
near, what will be their end ? They will lose 
all their influence and importance ; they will 
turn aside to vain janglings ; they will settle 
again upon their lees, and, like other sects of 
Dissenters, come to nothing f" 

Events have proved that the good Charles 
Wesley was more of a poet than a prophet. 
The " poor Methodists " of America, under the 
organization established by John Wesley, in- 
stead of " coming to nothing," have multiplied 
so as to be counted by hundreds of thousands, 
and are the most numerous and the wealthiest 
Church in the nation. 

In reference to the ordinations, he addresses 
the following earnest letter to his brother : 

" Dear Brother, — I have been reading over 
again your ' Reasons against a Separation,' 
printed in 1758, and your Works, and entreat 



198 THE POET PEE A CHER. 



you, in the name of God, and for Christ's sake, 
to read them again yourself with previous 
prayer, and stop and proceed no further till 
you have an answer to your inquiry, 6 Lord, 
what wouldst thou have me to do?' Every 
word of your eleven pages deserves the 
deepest consideration, not to mention my testi- 
mony and hymns. Only the seventh I could 
wish you to read, a prophecy which I pray 
may never come to pass. 

" Near thirty years since then you have 
stood against the importunate solicitations of 
your preachers, who have scarcely at last pre- 
vailed. I was your natural ally and faithful 
friend, and while you continued faithful to 
yourself, we two could chase a thousand. But 
when once* you began ordaining in America, 
I knew, and you knew, that your preachers 
here would never rest till you ordained them. 
You told me they would separate by and by.- 
The doctor tells us the same. His Methodist 
Episcopal Church in Baltimore was intended 
to beget a Methodist Episcopal Church here* 



THE WESLEYAN ORDINATIONS. 199 



You know he comes armed with your authority 
to make us all Dissenters, One of your sons 
assured me that not a preacher in London 
would refuse orders from the doctor. 

"Alas ! what trouble are you preparing for 
yourself, as well as for me and for your oldest, 
truest, best friends! Before you have quite 
broken down the bridge, stop and consider ! If 
your sons have no regard for you, have some 
regard for yourself. Go to your grave in 
peace ; at least suffer me to go first, before this 
ruin is under your hand. 

" So much I think you owe to my father, to 
my brother, and to me, as to stay till I am 
taken from the evil. I am on the brink of the 
grave. Do not push me in, or embitter my 
last moments. Let us not leave an indelible 
blot on our memory, but let us leave behind us 
the name and character of honest men. 

" This letter is a debt to our parents, and to 
our brother, as well as to you, and to your 
faithful friend." 

The following is a part of John's reply: 



200 THE POET PEEACHEE. 

" All these reasons against a seperation from 
the Church, in this sense, I subscribe to still. 
What, then, are you frightened at ? I no more 
separate from it now than I did in the year 
1758. I submit still (though sometimes with a 
doubting conscience) to 6 mitered infidels.' I do 
indeed vary from them in some points of doc- 
trine, and in some points of discipline ; (by 
preaching abroad, for instance, by praying ex- 
tempore, and by forming societies ;) but not a 
hair's breadth further than I believe to be meet, 
right, and my bounden duty. I walk still by the 
same rule I have done for between forty and 
fifty years. I do nothing rashly. It is not likely 
I should. The heyday of my blood is over. If 
you will go on hand in hand with me, do. But 
do not hinder me if you will not help. Perhaps 
if you had kept close to me, I might have done 
better. However, with or without help, I creep 
on ; and as I have been hitherto, so I trust I shall 
always be, your affectionate friend and brother." 

There was other correspondence on the same 
subject between the brothers, but it ended 



CHARLES WESLEY A POET. 201 

amicably. " Their love for each other was 
strong and tender, and if anything could have 
restrained John from performing his acts of or- 
dination, it was his regard for Charles. But 
such was his conviction of duty, that he chose 
rather to grieve the dearest friend he had in 
the world than refrain from doing that to which 
he believed himself providentially called in the 
peculiar exigency of his spiritual children." 



CHAELES WESLEY A POET. 

Charles Wesley stood in the first rank as a 
devotional poet. " In the composition of 
hymns adapted to Christian worship, he cer- 
tainly has no equal in the English language, 
and is perhaps superior to every other unin- 
spired man that ever lived. It does not ap- 
pear that any person besides himself, in any 
section of the universal Church, has either 
written so many hymns, or hymns of such sur- 
passing excellence. Those which he published 



202 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



would occupy about ten ordinary sized duodeci- 
mo volumes ; and the rest, which he left in man- 
uscript, and evidently designed for publication, 
would occupy at least ten more. It would be 
absurd to suppose that all these are of equal 
value ; but, generally speaking, those of them 
which possess the least merit, bear the impress 
of his genius." 

He was well trained in classical learning, 
which he cultivated through life. His famili- 
arity with the great poets of antiquity gave him 
a perfect knowledge of the laws of versification. 
He possessed at once the true poetic spirit and 
genius, and the art of poetic expression. 

He seems to have written with great ease and 
freedom, as well as with singular simplicity 
and variety. "Many of his stanzas are as elo- 
quently free in their construction as even the 
finest paragraphs of Addison's prose. 

" While his sentiments and language are ad- 
mired by the most competent judges of good 
writing, his hymns are perfectly intelligible to 
the common people, thousands of whom, pos- 



CITxVRLES WESLEY A POET. 



203 



sessed of spiritual religion, feel their breadth and 
power, and sing them with rapturous delight. 

" His meters are very numerous, perhaps 
more so than those of any other English writer 
whatever; and it is difficult to say in which of 
them he most excelled. There are twenty-six 
meters in the Wesleyan collection in general 
use, and several others occur in the volumes 
which Charles published in his own name. 

" This variety renders the reading of his 
books exceedingly agreeable. His cadences 
never fall on the ear, and never weary the 
attention. Like scenes in nature, and the best 
musical compositions, they are perpetually 
varying, and charm by their novelty." 

The same writer adds that " one of the most 
striking peculiarities of Charles Wesley's poetry 
is its energy. He always writes with vigor, for 
he is always in earnest. As he felt deeply, 
and had a singular command of language, he 
expresses himself with great force. Never 
does he weaken his lines by unnecessary epi- 
thets, or any redundancy of words; and he 

13 



204 



THE POET PKEACHEE. 



evidently aimed more at strength than smooth- 
ness. Tet he had too fine an ear ever to be 
rugged ; and whenever he chose he could rival 
the most tuneful of his brethren in the liquid 
smoothness of his numbers. 

" But the crowning excellence of his hymns 
is the spirit of deep and fervent piety which 
they everywhere breathe. 

" Every feeling of the heart, from the first 
communication of light to the understanding, 
producing conviction of sin, and desires after 
God and Christ, till salvation from sin is attained, 
the conflicts of the spiritual warfare are ended, 
and the sanctified believer enters into the 
heavenly paradise, is embodied in his hymns. 
The sorrows of penitence, the confidence of 
faith, the joys of pardon, holiness, and hope; 
the burning ardor of divine love, the pleasures 
of obedience, the warmth of universal benevo- 
lence, and the anticipations of future glory, he 
has not merely described, but expressed, and 
that in all their fullness and depth. . . . 

"The poetical talent that was committed to 



CHARLES WESLEY A POET. 



205 



the trust of Mr. Charles Wesley involved a 
responsibility the full extent of which it would 
be impossible to estimate. He was endued 
with a power which scarcely any other man has 
been called upon to wield — a power of promot- 
ing the spiritual benefit, not only of the multi- 
tudes whom his living voice could reach, but 
of millions whom he never saw. 

" During the last fifty years few collections 
of hymns, designed for the use of evangelical 
congregations, whether belonging to the Estab- 
lished Church or the Dissenting bodies, have 
been made without a considerable number of 
his compositions, which are admired in propor- 
tion as the people are spiritually minded. His 
hymns are therefore extensively used in secret 
devotion, in family worship, and in public re- 
ligous assemblies. Every Sabbath-day myriads 
of voices are lifted up, and utter, in the hal- 
lowed strains which he has supplied, the feelings 
of penitence, of faith, of grateful love, and joyous 
hope with which the Holy Ghost, the Lord and 
Giver of life, has inspired them, and are thus in 



206 



THE POET PEEACHER. 



a course of training for the more perfect wor- 
ship of heaven. 

"Faithfully did he consecrate his talent to 
the Lord ; and the honor which the Lord hath 
conferred upon his servant is of the highest 
order, an honor widely extended, and increas- 
ing with every successive generation. As long 
as the language in which they are written is 
understood, and enlightened piety is cherished, 
the hymns of this venerable man will be used 
as a handmaid to devotion. They were not 
6 obtained by the invocation of Dame Memory 
and her syren sisters, but by devout prayer to 
that Eternal Spirit who can enrich with all 
utterance and knowledge, and sends out his 
seraphim with the hallowed fire of his altar to 
purify the lips of whom he pleases.' They are 
perfectly free from all sickly sentimentality, 
especially that which modern poets affect, by a 
perpetual reference to consecrated places, sacred 
vestments, holy water, and the trumpery of 
papal Rome, as if religion were a mere matter 
of the imagination, and Christians were still 



POETICAL SPECIMENS. 



207 



under the Jewish law. His hymns are as 
rational and manly in sentiment, as they are 
pure and elegant in composition. Their the- 
ology is thoroughly Scriptural." 



POETICAL SPECIMENS. 

"We have already, in the preceding pages, 
inserted a specimen or two of Charles "Wesley's 
poetry. We shall now, as illustrative of state- 
ments submitted in the preceding chapter, pre- 
sent a few other specimens. 

In the following a lost soul is personated, 
sinking to ruin in spite of proffered mercy. It 
is a striking example of the poet's boldness and 
spirit : 

" Hear an incarnate devil preach, 
Nor throw, like me, your souls away, 

While heavenly bliss is in your reach, 
And God prolongs your gracious day. 

" Whom I reject do you receive ; 

The Saviour of mankind embrace ; 
He tasted death for all ; believe, 

Believe, and ye are saved by grace. 



208 



THE POET PREACHER. 



41 Ye are, and I was once forgiven ; 

Jesus' s doom did mine repeal ; 
I might with you have come to heaven, 

Saved through the grace from which I fell. 

" A ransom for my soul was paid ; 

For mine, and every soul of man, 
The Lamb a full atonement made, 

The Lamb for me and Judas slain. 

" Before I at his bar appear, 
Thence into outer darkness thrust, 

The Judge of all the earth I clear, 
Jesus the merciful, the just. 

" By my own hands, not his, I fall ; 

The hellish doctrine I disprove ; 
Sinners, his grace is free for all ; 

Though I am damn'd, yet God is love !" 

The two stanzas following are part of a 
hymn composed upon the road, in behalf of 
the Irish Roman Catholics : 

" If thou wilt work a work of grace, 

Who shall the hinderer be ? 
Shall all the human, hellish race 

Detain thy own from thee ? 
Shall Satan keep, as lawful prize, 

A nation hi his snare ? 
Hosts of the living God arise, 

And try the force of prayer ! 



POETICAL SPECIMENS. 



209 



" The prayer of faitli Lath raised the dead, 

The infernal legions driven, 
The slaves from Satan's dungeon freed, 

And shut and opened heaven. 
Our faith shall cleave the triple crown, 

Shall o'er the beast prevail ; 
And turn his kingdom upside down, 

And shake the gates of hell." 

The beginning of the year 1756 was a dark 
time in the national affairs of England, and a 
day of public fasting and humiliation was pro- 
claimed by government. It was on this occa- 
sion that Charles "Wesley composed the follow- 
ing sublime hymn : 

" Stand the omnipotent decree ; 

Jehovah's will be done ; 
Nature's end we wait to see, 

And hear her final groan. 
Let this earth dissolve, and blend 

In death the wicked and the just ; 
Let those ponderous orbs descend, 

And grind us into dust ; 

" Bests secure the righteous man ; 

At his Eedeemer's beck, 
Sure to emerge and rise again, 

And mount above the wreck. 
Lo ! the heavenly spirit towers, 

Like flames o'er Nature's funeral pyre ; 



210 



THE POET PREACHER. 



Triumphs in immortal powers, 
And claps his wings of fire. 

" Nothing hath the just to lose, 

By worlds on worlds destroyed ; 
Far beneath his feet he views, 

"With smiles, the flaming void ; 
Sees this universe renew' d, 

The grand millennial reign begun ; 
Shouts, with all the sons of God, 

Around the eternal throne. 

"Besting in this glorious hope 

To be at last restored, 
Yield we now our bodies up 

To earthquake, plague, or sword ; 
Listening for the call divine, 

The latest trumpet of the seven, 
Soon our soul and dust shall join, 

And both fly up to heaven." 

In 1759 Charles Wesley published the fourth 
edition of his " Funeral Hymns." 

The following effusion is as energetic and ele- 
gant as it is expressive of towering faith and 
adoring gratitude : 

" Merciful God, thyself proclaim, 

In this polluted breast ; 
Mercy is thy distinguish' d name, 

Which suits a sinner best ; 



POETICAL SPECIMENS. 



211 



Our misery doth for pity call, 
Our sin implores thy grace ; 

And thou art merciful to all 
Our lost apostate race. 

" Thy causeless, unexhausted love, 

Unmerited and free, 
Delights our evil to remove, 

And help our miseiy. 
Thou waitest to be gracious still, 

Thou dost with sinners bear, 
That, sav'd, we may thy goodness feel, 

And all thy grace declare. 

" Thy goodness and thy truth to me, 

To every soul abound ; 
A vast unfathomable sea, 

Where all our thoughts are drown' d, 
Its streams the whole creation reach, 

So plenteous is the store ; 
Enough for all, enough for each, 

Enough for evermore. 

" Faithful, 0 Lord, thy mercies are, 

A rock that cannot move ; 
A thousand promises declare 

Thy constancy of love ; 
Throughout the universe it reigns, 

Unalterably sure ; 
And while the truth of God remains, 

The goodness must endure." 



The mournful stanzas following were occa- 
sioned by the defection of his youngest son 



212 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



Samuel to Romanism, It is said that of all his 
sorrows, none had ever touched him so heavily 
as this. His feelings arose to agony. He re- 
garded his son as lost to him and to the rest of 
the family, and the very sight of him caused 
the father's heart to bleed afresh : 

" Farewell, my all of earthly hope, 
My nature's stay, my age's prop, 

Irrevocably gone ! 
Submissive to the will divine, 
I acquiese, and make it mine — 

I offer up my son ! 

" But give I God a sacrifice 

That costs me naught ? my gushing eyes, 

The answer sad express ; 
My gushing eyes and troubled heart, 
Which bleeds with its beloved to part, 

"Which breaks through fond excess. 

" Yet since he from my heart is torn, 
Patient, resigned, I calmly mourn 

The darling snatched away ; 
Father, with thee thy own I leave ; 
Into thy mercy's arms receive, 

And keep him to that day. 

" Keep, for I nothing else desire, 
The bush unburn' d amid the fire, 
And freely I resign 



POETICAL SPECIMENS. 



213 



My child, for a few moments lent, 
{My child no longer !) I consent 
To see Ms face no more ! 

" But hear my agonizing prayer, 
And 0, preserve him, and prepare 

To meet me in the skies, 
"When throned in bliss the Lamb appears, 
Repairs my loss and wipes the tears 

Forever from my eyes ! " 

The following hymn, " Wrestling Jacob," is 
the one which Dr. Watts considered " worth 
more than all the verses he had written 

" Come, 0 thou traveler unknown, 
Whom still I hold, but cannot see ; 

My company before is gone, 

And I am left alone with thee : 

With thee all night I mean to stay, 

And wrestle till the break of day. 

u I need not tell thee who I am ; 

My sin and misery declare ; 
Thyself hast call'd me by my name ; 

Look on thy hands, and read it there. 
But who, I ask thee, who art thou ? 
Tell me thy name, and tell me now. 

" In vain thou struggiest to get free ; 

I never will unloose my hold : 
Art thou the man that died for me ? 

The secret of thy love unfold : 
Wrestling, I will not let thee go, 
Till I thy name, thy nature know, 



214 



THE POET PREACHER. 



" Wilt thou not yet to me reveal 

Thy new, unutterable name ? 
Tell me, I still beseech thee, tell ; 

To know it now resolved I am : 
Wrestling, I will not let thee go, 
Till I thy name, thy nature know. 

" What though my shrinking flesh complain, 
And murmur to contend so long ? 

I rise superior to my pain : 
When I am weak, then I am strong : 

And when my all of strength shall fail, 

I shall with the God-man prevail. 

" Yield to me now, for I am weak, 

But confident in self-despair ; 
Speak to my heart, in blessings speak ; 

Be conquer' d by my instant prayer: 
Speak, or thou never hence shalt move, 
And tell me if thy name be Love. 

u 'Tis Love ! 'tis Love ! thou diedst for me ; 

I hear thy whisper in my heart ; 
The morning breaks, the shadows flee ; 

Pure, universal Love thou art : 
To me, to all, thy bowels move ; 
Thy nature and thy name is Love. 

" My prayer hath power with God ; the grace 

Unspeakable I now receive ; 
Through faith I see thee face to face ; 

I see thee face to face, and live ! 
In vain I have not wept and strove ; 
Thy nature and thy name is Love. 



POETICAL SPECIMENS. 



215 



" I know thee, Saviour, who thou art — r 
Jesus, the feeble sinner's Friend: 

Nor wilt thou with the night depart, 
But stay' and love me to the end : 

Thy mercies never shall remove ; 

Thy nature and thy name is Love. 

" The Sun of righteousness on me 
Hath risen with healing in his wings : 

Withered my nature's strength, from thee 
My soul its life and succor brings : 

My help is all laid up above ; 

Thy nature and thy name is Love. 

" Contented now, upon my thigh 
I halt, till life's short journey end ; 

All helplessness, all weakness, I 
On thee alone for strength depend ; 

Nor have I power from thee to move ; 

Thy nature and thy name is Love. 

" Lame as I am, I take the prey ; 

Hell, earth, and sin, with ease o'ercome \ 
I leap for joy, pursue my way, 

And, as a bounding hart, fly home, 
Through all eternity to prove 
Thy nature and thy name is Love !" 



216 



THE POET PEEACHEE. 



PREACHING AND SCHOLAESHIP. 

Charles Wesley excelled as a preacher, not 
so much in the greatness, as in the efficiency of 
his preaching. 

" There was nothing artificial in his sermons. 
To a strictly logical arrangement, and the arts 
of secular oratory, he was indifferent. His dis- 
courses were the effusions of the heart, rather 
than the offspring of the intellect, or of the 
imagination. They were not characterized by 
abstract reasoning or by showy ornament. 

" Of the Bible he was a diligent and enrap- 
tured student; and its facts, doctrines, language, 
and imagery were indelibly engraven upon his 
mind. 

" In the delivery of God's word he expected 
and received the promised aid of the Holy 
Spirit, and under the divine unction he spoke 
with irresistible power and authority. 

" His heart was inflamed with zeal for the 
honor of Christ, and yearned over the souls of 



PREACHING AND SCHOLARSHIP. 217 

the people ; the tears ran down his cheeks, his 
tongue was loosed, and he poured forth the 
truth of God in the very phraseology of inspira- 
tion, with an effect that was overwhelming. 

" He gave such views of the evil of sin, and 
of the certain damnation of the impenitent and 
unregenerate, as terrified the consciences of the 
ungodly and the sinner, who fell down upon 
their knees, and in bitter anguish called upon 
God for his mercy. 

" At the same time he expatiated upon the 
perfect sacrifice of Christ, the efficacy of his 
blood, the tenderness of his compassion, and 
the freeness of his grace, with such a power of 
conviction as to induce those whose spirits were 
contrite even then to believe to the saving of 
their souls. He generally delivered his message 
in short, pointed sentences, which all could un- 
derstand, and all could feel. 

" When his own heart was deeply impressed, 
he not unfrequently extended his sermon to the 
length of two hours, and even more ; for he felt 
that he had a work to accomplish — the people 



218 



THE POET PKEACHEK. 



were ignorant and wicked, they needed instruc- 
tion, conversion, salvation. To turn them from 
sin to Christ was the very end of his preach- 
ing ; and he knew not how to close the service 
and dismiss the poor, guilty souls around him 
until this great design of the divine mercy was 
fulfilled. 

" Often was his heart gladdened by success. 
Under his ministry many a hardened sinner 
began to pray; and from the religious services 
which he conducted, even in the open air, 
many a penitent publican went to his house 
justified. 

" In the latter years of his life he was so 
enfeebled by age, disease, and sorrow, that his 
preaching was rather deliberate and tender, 
than powerful and awakening. Yet, on some 
occasions, to the end of his life, it partook of 
the vehemence and energy which characterized 
it in his earlier years." 

We have the following particular account of 
his preaching in his last days : 

" If his thoughts did not flow freely in the 



PKEACHIKG AND SCHOLARSHIP. 219 



pulpit he was very deliberate, making long 
pauses, as if waiting for the promised com- 
munication of divine influence. In such cases 
he usually preached with his eyes closed; he 
fumbled with his hands about his breast, leaned 
with his elbows upon the Bible, and his whole 
body was in motion. 

" He was often so feeble as to be under a 
necessity of once or twice calling upon the con- 
gregation to sing, in the course of his sermon, 
that he might partially recover himself, and be 
able to finish his discourse. When he had 
strength, and his mind was under peculiar 
excitement, as it often was, he expressed him- 
self with fluency and power. 

" His sentences were short and pointed, 
charged with the most weighty truths, and the 
language was such as all understood and 
felt. His sermons were the effusions of a 
heart overflowing with divin-e truth and love. 
They were rich in Scripture sentiment and in 
Scripture phraseology, 'as it were a paved work 
of sapphire.' 

14 



220 



THE POET PKEACHEE. 



" In prayer he was copious and mighty, 
especially upon sacramental occasions, when 
he seemed to ' enter into the holiest of all by 
the blood of Jesus. 5 

" Greatly was he enfeebled by age and dis- 
ease ; yet he continued his public religious 
services, in this spirit and manner, till within 
a few months of his death/ 9 

We have the following notice of his scholar- 
ship : " His attainments as a scholar were wor- 
thy of the advantages which he enjoyed, as a 
pupil of Westminster school, and a member of 
the university of Oxford. With the Latin, Greek, 
Hebrew, and French languages he was well ac- 
quainted. His son Samuel believed that he read 
German ; but his daughter, when questioned 
on the subject, spoke doubtingly. In a letter 
addressed to him at Oxford by his father, he is 
urged to persevere in the study of Arabic, and 
of the mathematics; but it is probable that, after 
he left the university, he paid little attention to 
either of these branches of learning. Classical 
and Biblical literature he cultivated to the end 



PKEACHING AND SCHOLAKSHIP. 221 



of his protracted life. His exact and critical 
knowledge of the Holy Scriptures is strikingly 
manifest in his hymns. Among the Romans, 
Horace and Yirgil were his favorite authors. 
Large portions of the ^Eneicl he had committed 
to memory, and occasionally repeated them, 
with unrivaled taste and spirit, for the grati- 
fication of his friends." 

" Considering his scholarship, taste, and ge- 
nius, there can be no doubt that, had he devoted 
himself to secular literature, he would have 
taken a high rank among the poets of Great 
Britain. He would have rivaled Dryden him- 
self, whom he greatly resembles in fluency, 
copiousness, and power." 

Like his brother John, Charles "Wesley was 
small of stature. He was short-sighted, abrupt 
and singular in his manners, so that when at 
college John is said to have dreaded his visits. 
" He w r ould run against his brother's table, dis- 
arrange his papers, ask several questions in 
quick succession, and often retire without even 
waiting for answers." 



222 



THE POET PKEACHEE. 



SOCIAL CHAEACTEK. 

Charles Wesley was eminently a social 
being, and his soul was formed for friendship. 
" He possessed such a frankness of disposition, 
combined with such warmth of affection and 
integrity of purpose, as at once commanded the 
esteem and love of all who were likeminded. 
His sympathies were deep and tender, so that 
his friendship was felt to be of inestimable 
value, especially in seasons of affliction, when 
help is most needed. He was, indeed, a 
brother born for the benefit of those who are in 
adversity, and possessed great power to soothe 
and cheer. The pain and sickness in which 
much of his life was spent, the successive deaths 
of five children, added to the natural and gra- 
cious tenderness of his heart, enabled him so to 
enter into the views and feelings of the sorrow- 
ful, that they were at once strengthened and en- 
couraged, and blessed God for the consolation 
of which he made his servant the instrument." 



SOCIAL CHARACTER. 



223 



He ever maintained an inviolable friendship 
for his brother John. As already noticed, he was 
deeply grieved with some of his brother's acts, 
and widely differed from him in some of his 
views ; yet his warm affection and friendship 
never declined. If he sometimes, himself, cen- 
sured John, he would allow no one else to do it. 

" Lady Huntingdon attempted to alienate 
him from his brother, by telling him, in a pri- 
vate letter, that John was a teacher of 6 heresy ' 
and 6 popery.' But deeply as he was indebted 
to her kindness, he rebuked her for her unseem- 
ly bigotry, and declared that death itself should 
never separate him from the brother of his 
heart. He was linked to him by no selfish 
feeling, or mere instinct of nature, but by the 
' love that never faileth ; 5 and his generous 
friendship was returned by his brother with 
equal fidelity and warmth. 

"In the various domestic relations the con- 
duct of Charles Wesley was most exemplary. 
His filial reverence and affection toward both 
his parents, were as profound as they were 



224 



THE POET PREACHEE. 



justly merited. Toward both his brothers, and 
all his sisters, he was an example of fraternal 
kindness. They witnessed through life his read- 
iness to serve them as much as lay in his power. 

"What he was as a husband the preceding 
narrative declares. To his wife he disclosed the 
secrets of his heart with perfect confidence 
and unreserve ; and in her society he sought 
for solace when troubled with the affairs of the 
world and the Church. His concern for her 
comfort, his sympathy with her in affliction, 
and, above all, his pious solicitude for her spirit- 
ual improvement, are attested in the whole of 
his correspondence with her, of which many 
specimens have been given. 

Several of his hymns were originally written 
for her use and benefit. They were acts of sup- 
plication in times of necessity and sorrow, of 
resignation under bereavements, or of adoring 
gratitude for divine mercies. He received her 
as a gift from God ; he regarded her as his best 
earthly friend ; and he ever treated her as an 
heir with himself of eternal life. 



SOCIAL CHARACTER 



225 



" Often did lie remind her that the most im- 
portant end of their union was their mutual 
improvement in personal holiness ; and most 
assiduously did he labor to bring her into 
increasing union with Christ their living head. 

" In a letter which he addressed to her when 
he felt his strength decay, he says: 'My best 
of friends, — I am going the way of all the earth ; 
and what shall I do for you before we part ? I 
can only pray, and very imperfectly, that the 
providential end of our meeting may be answer- 
ed upon you in both worlds. You married me 
that you might be holier and happier to all eter- 
nity. If you have received less spiritual good 
than you expected, it is chiefly my fault. I 
have not set you the pattern I ought. For the 
same reason I have been of so little use to my 
children. But it is too late to attempt it now ; 
my night cometh, or rather is come. I leave 
you to the God of all grace, who is ready to sup- 
ply all your wants. Time fails me for the rest. 
I may have another opportunity, I may not. 
The Lord be yours and your children's portion !' 



226 



.THE POET PEEACHEE. 



" Such were the humbling views which this 
Christian husband and parent entertained con- 
cerning himself!" 

" His children were mostly educated by him- 
self; and the letters which he addressed to 
them when they were from home, many of 
which have been preserved, express the tender- 
ness of his love, and his yearning desire for 
their salvation." 



DEATH. 

In the month of February, 1788, commenced 
the last sickness of Charles Wesley. He was 
then reduced to great weakness, though still 
able to go abroad occasionally. 

On the 18th of this month he received such a 
letter as the following from his brother John : 

"Deae Brother, — You must go out every 
day or die. Do not die to save charges ; you 
certainly need not want anything as long as 
I live." 



DEATH. 



227 



Shortly after this, John left London on an 
itinerating excursion, and saw his brother no 
more. He seems not to have suspected that 
Charles was so near to die ; but strongly looked 
for him to rally, and still labor in the Gospel. 

"The decree, however, was gone forth, and 
no means could avail for the preservation of his 
life. While he remained in the state of ex- 
treme feebleness to which the letter of John re- 
fers, having been silent and quiet for some time, 
he called Mrs. Wesley to him, and requested 
her to write the following lines at his dictation : 

' In age and feebleness extreme, 
Who shall a sinful worm redeem ? 
Jesus, my only hope thou art, 
Strength of my failing flesh and heart ; 
0 could I catch a smile from thee, 
And drop into eternity I' 

" For fifty years Christ as the Eedeemer of 
men had been the subject of his effective min- 
istry and of his loftiest songs, and he may be 
said to have died with a hymn to Christ upon 
his lips. He lingered till the 29th of March, 
1788, when he yielded up his spirit into the 



228 



THE POET PREACHER. 



hands of his God and Saviour, at the advanced 
age of seventy-nine years and three months." 

On the same day, Miss Sarah Wesley ad- 
dressed her Uncle John as follows : 

" Dear and Honored Uncle, — We were all 
present when my dear respected father de- 
parted this life. His end was, what he particu- 
larly wished it might be, peace ! For some 
months past he seemed totally detached from 
earth. He spoke very little, nor wished to hear 
anything read but the Scriptures. He took a 
solemn leave of all his friends. I once asked if 
he had any presages that he should die. He 
said, ' No ;' but his weakness was such that he 
thought it impossible he 'should live through 
March.' He kindly bade me remember him, 
and seemed to have no doubt but I should meet 
him in heaven. 

" All his prayer was, ' patience, and an easy 
death ! ' He bade every one who visited him to 
supplicate for these ; often repeating, 6 an easy 
death ! 5 He told my mother, the week before 



DEATH. 



229 



he departed, that no fiend was permitted to ap- 
proach him ; and said to us all, ' I have a good 
hope P When we asked if he wanted anything, 
he frequently answered, ' Nothing but Christ !' 
Some person observed that the valley of the 
shadow of death was hard to be passed. 6 Not 
with Christ,' replied he. 

" On March 27th, after a most uneasy night, 
he prayed, as in an agony, that he might not 
have many such nights. 6 O my God,' said he, 
'not many /' It was with great difficulty he 
seemed to speak. About ten days before, on 
my brother Samuel's entering the room, he 
took hold of his hand, and pronounced, with a 
voice of faith, ' I shall bless God to all eternity 
that ever you were born. I am persuaded I 
shall ! ' My brother Charles also seemed much 
upon his mind. ' That dear boy !' said he, 
' God bless him !' He spoke less to me than to 
the rest, which has since given me some pain. 
However, he bade me trust in God, and never 
forsake him ; and then he assured me that 
he never would forsake me. 



230 



THE POET PKEACHEK. 



" The 28th, my mother asked if he had any 
thing to say to us. Eaising his eyes, he said, 
' Only thanks ! love ! blessing !' 

" Tuesday and Wednesday he was not en- 
tirely sensible. He slept much, without re- 
freshment, and had the restlessness of death for, 
I think, the whole week. He was eager to de- 
part ; and if we moved him, or spoke to him, 
he answered, £ Let me die ! let me die !' A 
fortnight before he prayed, with many tears, 
for all his enemies, naming Miss Freeman. 1 I 
beseech thee, O Lord, by thine agony and 
bloody sweat,' said he, £ that she may never feel 
the pangs of eternal death.' When your kind 
letter to my brother came, (in which you affec- 
tionately tell him that you will be a father to 
him and my brother Samuel,) I read it to our 
father. 'He will le kind to you? said he, 
£ when I am gone. I am certain your uncle 
will be Jcind to all of you,' 

"The last morning, which was the 29th of 
March, being unable to speak, my mother en- 
treated him to press her hand if he knew her, 



DEATH. 



231 



which he feebly did. His last words which I 
could hear were, ' Lord— my heart — my God ! ' 
He then died his breath short, and the last so 
gently, that we knew not exactly the moment 
in which his happy spirit fled. His dear hand 
w r as in mine for five minutes before, and at the 
awful period of his dissolution. It had often 
been his desire that we should attend him to the 
grave ; and though he did not mention it again 
(which he did the place of his burial) during 
his illness, we all mean to fulfill his wish, 
trusting we shall be supported, as we have been 
hitherto, in our afflicting situations. 

" My dear, honored uncle, my mother pre- 
sents you her respectful love, and my brothers 
join with me in duty, begging your prayers 
for the widow and the fatherless ! I am your 
afflicted and dutiful niece." 

John "Wesley replied to his niece as follows : 

" My dear Sally, — I thank you for the ac- 
count you have given me. It is full and satis- 



232 



THE POET PREACHER. 



factory. You describe a very awful scene. The 
time, I doubt not, was prolonged on purpose 
that it might make the deeper impression on 
those that might otherwise soon have forgotten 
it. What a difference does one moment make 
when the soul springs out of time into eternity ! 
What an amazing change ! What are all the 
pleasures, the business of this world, to a disem- 
bodied spirit ? Let us therefore be ready, for the 
day is at hand ! But the comfort is, it cannot 
part you long from, dear Sally, yours invariably." 

On Saturday, April 5th, Charles Wesley was 
buried, according to his desire, in the churchyard 
of St, Mary-le-bone, near his residence. The pall 
was supported by eight clergymen of the Church 
of England. On the following day his funeral 
sermon was preached "in West-street, at the 
new chapel, to an inconceivable concourse of 
people, of every description, from 2 Sam. iii, 38 : 
4 A prince and a great man is fallen this day 
in Israel.'" 

On a neat marble tablet in City Koad Chapel, 
London, is inscribed the following epitaph : 



DEATH. 233 
" God buries his workmen, but carries on his work." 

OP 

THE REV. CHARLES WESLEY, A.M., 

Educated at Westminster School, 
and some time Student at Christ Church, Oxford. 
As a Preacher, 
he was eminent for ability, zeal, and usefulness, 
being learned without pride, 
" and pious without ostentation ; 
to the sincere, diffident Christian, 
a son of consolation ; 
but to the vain boaster, the hypocrite, and profane, 
a son of thunder. 
He was the first who received the name of Methodist; 
and, uniting with his brother, the Kev. John Wesley, 
in the plan of itinerant preaching, 
endured hardships, persecution, and disgrace, 
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ ; 
contributing largely, by the usefulness of his labors, 
to the first formation of the Methodist Societies 
in these kingdoms. 
As a Christian Poet he stood unrivaled ; 
and his Hymns will convey instruction and consolation 
to the faithful in Christ Jesus 
as long as the English language is understood. 
He was born the xviii of December, MDCCVIII, 
and died the xxix of March, MDCCLXXXVIII, 
a firm and pious believer in the doctrines of the Gospel, 
and a sincere friend to the Church of England. 



231 THE POET PKEACHER. 



It only remains that we add the following 
record : 

Mrs. Wesley, having survived her husband 
about thirty-four years, died December 28, 
1822, at the advanced age of ninety-six. 

Sarah died at Bristol, when on a visit to 
that city, on the 19th of September, 1828, 
aged sixty-eight years. 

Charles died in London, May 23, 1834, in 
the seventy-seventh year of his age. 

Samuel, also, died in London on the 11th 
of October, 1837, in the seventy-second year 
of his age. 

Charles and Sarah were never married. 
They were both members of the Methodist 
Society. Samuel left several children, who 
are now living. 

THE END. 



18 Aprl .1860 



3lf77-9 



\ 



